Limb Compression and Renal Impairment (Crush Syndrome) Complicating Narcotic Overdose

Abstract

WE have seen three drug addicts who had injected themselves with heroin 12 to 16 hours before admission and then lost consciousness, with one limb being compressed by another part of the body. The result was compression of the dependent limb and resultant "crush syndrome" with renal insufficiency.On admission the blood pressures averaged 100 systolic, 76 diastolic. The patients were dehydrated; the hematocrits were 55 to 58 per cent. The urines were dark, and the supernatants were benzidine positive. There were no red blood cells in the sediment. In one patient myoglobinuria was proved spectrophotometrically.Our first patient, in . . .