The Wenchuan earthquake on May 12, 2008 was a catastrophic natural disaster and resulted in a massive number of deaths and casualties. After the earthquake, nephrologists played critical roles not only in the restoration of dialysis facilities for regular renal replacement therapy but also in the prevention and treatment of crush syndrome and crush-related acute kidney injury. Brief guidelines, functional action plans and good training were significant factors in nephrologists being able to fulfill their critical roles, but the national network of renal disaster relief was also extremely important.
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