What is Crush Syndrome after an Earthquake?

What is Crush Syndrome after an Earthquake?

Crush syndrome, also known as crush syndrome, is tissue damage and muscle necrosis that occurs as a result of crush injuries, prolonged compression and immobility in natural disasters such as earthquake trauma . Experts emphasize that this syndrome is seen in 2 to 3 percent of people injured during an earthquake, and for its treatment, first of all, intravenous access should be opened as soon as possible and serum treatment should be started.

NPISTANBUL Hospital Internal Medicine Specialist Assist. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ayhan Levent gave information about Crush syndrome, which is defined as the crushing of the body when the body is under debris in earthquakes, and made important recommendations.

What are the Symptoms of Crush Syndrome?

Dr. Ayhan Levent said, " Symptoms of Crush syndrome , which develops as a result of the contents of the crushed striated muscles entering the bloodstream, include painful and swollen limbs, low blood pressure, weakness, heart rhythm disorder, respiratory failure, decreased urine amount and dark urination. The general health of the person who is pulled from the rubble may be good in the first stage. There may be swelling of a single limb, weakness or inability to move the limb. However, after a while, there may be a drop in blood pressure, respiratory failure and a risk to life. As a result, this syndrome is an important syndrome that can threaten a person's life. With appropriate treatments, the life risk can be minimized."

What are the Causes of Crush Syndrome?

Among the causes of crush syndrome that may occur in people exposed to earthquakes; Stating that disasters such as earthquakes, impacts in work and traffic accidents, avalanches and being under a snow mass are included, Internal Medicine Specialist Dr. Ayhan Levent said, "This syndrome is defined as a condition that causes significant tissue damage and muscle necrosis that occurs as a result of crush injury, long-term compression and immobility."

What are the Complications of Crush Syndrome?

Stating that crush syndrome occurs as a result of prolonged exposure of muscle tissue to pressure, Dr. Ayhan Levent continued his words as follows:

"In an earthquake, there is a lot of weight on the body under the rubble. When the earthquake victim is removed, the areas under pressure are released and blood flow begins. Potassium, myoglobin, phosphate, creatine kinase, lactate dehydrogenase, AST, ALT and uric acid, which are normally found in muscle, pass from damaged muscle tissue into the bloodstream. Elevated levels of these substances in the blood can cause toxic and fatal complications. These complications include internal and surgical complications such as acute renal failure, heart failure, hyperpotassemia, hypovolemic shock, respiratory failure, infections, compartment syndrome, bleeding. Especially high potassium in the blood causes fatal arrhythmias. Because of these fatal rhythms, a person who is doing well under the rubble may die after being rescued."

Crush Syndrome Treatment

Emphasizing that the most important step in reducing the risk of life and disability from complications arising from crush syndrome is early rescue and early treatment, Dr. Ayhan Levent said, "Treatment should start while the earthquake victim is still under the rubble. Excessive crushing of the muscles is life-threatening if a quick and effective treatment is not applied. The most important step of the treatment is to open an intravenous line as soon as possible and start serum treatment with isotonic sodium chloride (NaCl) at a rate of 1 liter/hour."

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CreatorNP Istanbul Hospital Editorial Board
Updated At05 March 2024
Created At10 March 2023
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