Acute renal failure, compartment syndrome, and systemic capillary leak syndrome complicating carbon monoxide poisoning.

Five Indian labourers sharing one room were found lying on the floor unconscious. A coal fire had been lit to provide heat during the cold night and was still burning inside the room. Two of the men were pronounced dead at the scene. The other three were transferred to the hospital in critical condition. This paper contains the case reports of the three patients who were transferred to the hospital. One of the patients died 60 h after admission. The other two patients were successfully treated and released. The three patients developed severe rhabdomyolysis complicated by compartment syndrome. The patient who died developed compartment syndrome in three extremities. Two patients required blood transfusion due to very severe hemolysis. The hemolysis in the third patient was less severe and did not require blood transfusion. Two patients developed anuric acute renal failure due to acute tubular necrosis as shown by renal biopsy. Two patients developed the full blown picture of systemic capillary leak syndrome. Gross and microscopic examination of specimens taken at autopsy showed extensive necrosis of all skeletal muscles, myocardial necrosis and acute tubular necrosis affecting both kidneys.