Disasters, crush syndrome, and acute kidney injury to be featured at Renal Week 2010: Denver, CO

In a terrorist attack, crush injury and crush syndrome may result from structural collapse after a bombing or explosion. Crush injury is defined as compression of extremities or other parts of the body that causes muscle swelling and/or neurological disturbances in the affected areas of the body. Typically affected areas of the body include lower extremities (74%), upper extremities (10%), and trunk (9%). Crush syndrome is localized crush injury with systemic manifestations. These systemic effects are caused by a traumatic rhabdomyolysis (muscle breakdown) and the release of potentially toxic muscle cell components and electrolytes into the circulatory system. Crush syndrome can cause local tissue injury, organ dysfunction, and metabolic abnormalities, including acidosis, hyperkalemia, and hypocalcemia.

Previous experience with earthquakes that caused major structural damage has demonstrated that the incidence of crush syndrome is 2-15% with approximately 50% of those with crush syndrome developing acute renal failure and over 50% needing fasciotomy. Of those with renal failure, 50% need dialysis.

-Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
http://www.bt.cdc.gov/masscasualties/blastinjury-crush.asp

Nephrology in Natural Disasters: What to Do with Acute Kidney Injury and End-stage Renal Disease Patients during Disasters
November 19, 2010 | 04:30 PM - 06:30 PM
Presented by the American Society of Nephrology – Renal Week 2010
Denver, Colorado

Session Description
This topic serves to educate physicians living in at-risk areas about how to respond to a natural disaster, prepare a dialysis unit, assess nephrology needs (e.g., continue chronic dialysis for existing patients, need for acute dialysis for acute kidney injury patients), how to respond appropriately to minimize renal injury, how to manage crush victims following disasters, and complications. The International Society of Nephrology (ISN) has spearheaded these efforts with the Renal Disaster Relief Task Force. ASN recently developed its own task force. The merging of experience may be of great value to the physicians from many countries who attend the Renal Week.

Session Objectives
Upon completion of this session, the participant will be able to: be better equipped to develop algorithms for: 1) evacuation; 2) recognizing and forming support networks; and 3) treatment plan for renal patients.

Moderators
Jeffrey B. Kopp, MD, FASN
Ricardo Correa-Rotter, MD

Lectures
Nephrology Experience in Natural Disasters
04:30 PM - 05:00 PM

Impact of Disasters on Dialysis Patients' Health
05:00 PM - 05:30 PM
Kenneth D. Lempert, MD

Haiti Earthquake from a Nephrology Point of View
05:30 PM - 06:00 PM
Didier Portilla, MD

Recommendations for the Management of Crush Victims Following Mass Disasters
06:00 PM - 06:30 PM
Raymond C. Vanholder, MD, PhD

Please see the registration information at http://www.asn-online.org/education_and_meetings/renal_week/2010/program-session-details.aspx?sess_id=36