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3.4.7 - Neuromuscular Disorders

from Section 3.4 - Neurological Impairment and Injury

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 July 2023

By
Sachin Mehta  and
Manpreet Bahra
Edited by
Ned Gilbert-Kawai ,
Debashish Dutta  and
Carl Waldmann
Ned Gilbert-Kawai
Affiliation:
The Royal Liverpool Hospital
Debashish Dutta
Affiliation:
Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust, Harlow
Carl Waldmann
Affiliation:
Royal Berkshire Hospital, Reading
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Summary

Key Learning Points

  1. 1. Several conditions exist that may lead to profound muscle weakness and death.

  2. 2. The most common conditions leading to admission to the ICU are Guillain–Barré syndrome and myasthenia gravis.

  3. 3. Early identification and supportive care can be lifesaving.

  4. 4. Specific therapies initiated in a timely manner can improve the prognosis significantly.

  5. 5. ICU-acquired weakness should be considered in ICU patients with flaccid, generalised weakness or weaning difficulties.

Keywords

neuromuscular disordersmyastheniaGuillain–Barrémyopathypolyneuropathy
Type
Chapter
Information
Intensive Care Medicine
The Essential Guide
 , pp. 197 - 200
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2021

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References

References and Further Reading

De, Jonghe B, Sharshar, T, Lefaucheur, J-P, et al. Paresis acquired in the intensive care unit: a prospective multicenter study. JAMA 2002;288:2859.Google Scholar
Hough, CL, Lieu, BK, Caldwell, ES. Manual muscle strength testing of critically ill patients: feasibility and interobserver agreement. Crit Care 2011;15:R43.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hughes, R, Cornblath, D. Guillain-Barré syndrome. Lancet 2005;366:1653–66.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Sanders, DB, Wolfe, GI, Benatar, M, et al. International consensus guidance for management of myasthenia gravis: executive summary. Neurology 2016;87:419.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Yuki, N, Hartung, HP. Guillain–Barré syndrome. N Engl J Med 2012;366:2294.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed

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