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Intensive care of the myasthenic patient

From the Department of Neurology, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, and the Neurological Intensive Care Unit, Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center, New York, NY.
Address correspondence and reprint requests to Dr. Stephan A. Mayer, Division of Critical Care Neurology, Neurological Institute, 710 West 168th Street, Unit 39, New York, NY 10032.

Abstract.

Article abstract-Myasthenic crisis, defined as respiratory failure requiring mechanical ventilation, occurs in 15 to 20% of patients with myasthenia gravis (MG). Infection (usually pneumonia or viral upper respiratory infection) is the most common precipitant (40%), followed by no obvious cause (30%) and aspiration (10%). As a general rule, 25% of patients are successfully extubated after 1 week, 50% after 2 weeks, and 75% after 1 month. Risk factors for intubation beyond 2 weeks, the point at which tracheostomy is usually performed, include age greater than 50 years, preintubation serum bicarbonate 30 mg/dL or greater, and vital capacity within 6 days of intubation less than 25 mL/kg. Intensive care management of the myasthenic patient should focus on timely intubation, prevention of aspiration with tube feedings, and avoidance of complications, such as atelectasis, that can prolong the duration of crisis. Plasmapheresis leads to short-term improvement of weakness in 75% of patients, and should be performed in all patients unless otherwise contraindicated. Although myasthenic crisis is fatal in approximately 5% of cases, deaths are almost exclusively the result of severe medical comorbidity. Residual weakness leads to functional dependence in 50% of patients at the time of discharge, and one-third will experience two or more episodes of crisis.

NEUROLOGY 1997;48(Suppl 5): S70-S75

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