Rhabdomyolysis Secondary to Therapeutic Hypothermia After Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation: A Rare Complication.

Patient maintenance after successful cardiopulmonary resuscitation starts with decreasing the neurological damage despite serious difficulties such as hypoxic ischemic infarcts and reperfusion infarcts. Therapeutic hypothermia is the most rejoicing method in use to prevent neurological damage. Here, we discuss about a 35-year-old woman resuscitated for 20 minutes in hospital who was followed because of postpartum cardiomyopathy. Sudden onset of ventricular fibrillation subsequent to ventricular tachycardia was the underlying cause of cardiac arrest. To prevent neurological damage, therapeutic hypothermia was used, and she was cooled for 24 hours. After therapeutic hypothermia, her Glasgow coma score was 15, fortunately no sequela appeared. Although we were successful to prevent neurological damage, rhabdomyolysis arose secondary to therapeutic hypothermia. As a result, the intubation process was prolonged, and acute tubular necrosis due to myoglobinuria was occurred. Despite all complications patient faced, she was discharged on her 31th day; without sequela and with no need for hemodialysis; under medical therapy.