A case of fulminant rhabdomyolysis after total removal of a craniopharyngioma

We reported a case of fulminant rhabdomyolysis with a high fever of more than 40°C which occured 4 days after total removal of a craniopharyngioma. After admission to the ICU, the patient was treated with surface cooling, wash-out therapy and continuous hemodiafiltration, together with the administration of dantrolene, methyl prednisolone, gabexate mesilate and ulinastatin.The patient became afebrile with this treatment, but multiple organ failure and severe metabolic acidosis led to death on the 2nd ICU day. We suspect that the cause of rhabdomyolysis was hyperthermia caused by the failure of the thermoregulatory center a few days after surgery for craniopharyngioma.