American Board of Surgery Qualifying Exam (ABS QE) Practice Test

What condition may develop due to extensive burns with myoglobinuria?

1. Hyperkalemia

2. Rhabdomyolysis

3. Cardiac arrest

4. Acute kidney injury

The correct answer is: Rhabdomyolysis

Extensive burns can lead to muscle damage, which in turn can cause myoglobin to be released into the bloodstream—a condition known as myoglobinuria. This condition occurs when myoglobin, a protein found in muscle tissue, is released into the urine, often as a result of muscle breakdown or injury. In the context of extensive burns, extensive tissue damage and subsequent muscle injury lead to rhabdomyolysis. This is characterized by the breakdown of muscle fibers and the release of their contents, including myoglobin, into the circulation. The presence of myoglobin in the urine can be toxic to the kidneys and can cause a range of complications, including acute kidney injury. Rhabdomyolysis itself is a serious condition with its own set of complications. While hyperkalemia, cardiac arrest, and acute kidney injury may also occur as consequences of severe burns and muscle damage, the direct relationship highlighted in the question revolves around the transformation of muscle degeneration due to the burns into rhabdomyolysis. Thus, recognizing rhabdomyolysis as a consequence of extensive burns that leads to myoglobinuria is key in understanding the underlying physiology involved in this condition.