Rhabdomyolysis and acute renal failure following cardioversion and cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

A 39-year-old male suffered a myocardial infarction at work and cardiopulmonary resuscitation was initiated immediately. After 15 cardioversions, ventricular fibrillation converted to sinus rhythm. Rhabdomyolysis with a 100-fold increase of serum creatine kinase level and myoglobinuria with acute renal failure ensued, requiring hemodialysis treatment. The patient died and autopsy revealed acute posterior myocardial infarction. Prolonged cardiopulmonary resuscitation involving repeated cardioversion may predispose to myoglobinuric renal failure.