HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) CME: Take the course for this article: Volume 60, Number 1, January 14, 2003 Correspondence: Submit a response Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when Correspondence are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Henderson, R.D. Articles by Wijdicks, E.F.M. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Henderson, R.D. Articles by Wijdicks, E.F.M. Related Collections Critical care All Neuromuscular Disease Guillain-Barre syndrome

The morbidity of Guillain-Barré syndrome admitted to the intensive care unit

From the Department of Neurology (Drs. Henderson, Lawn, Fletcher, and Wijdicks), Neurological-Neurosurgical Intensive Care Unit, Saint Mary’s Hospital, and Section of Biostatistics (Dr. McClelland), Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN.

Address correspondence and reprint requests to Dr. E.F.M. Wijdicks, Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic–W8A, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN 55905; e-mail: wijde{at}mayo.edu

Patients with severe forms of Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) require intensive care. Specific treatment, catheterization, and devices may increase morbidity in the intensive care unit (ICU). To understand the spectrum of morbidity associated with ICU care, the authors studied 114 patients with GBS. Major morbidity occurred in 60% of patients. Complications were uncommon if ICU stay was less than 3 weeks. Respiratory complications such as pneumonia and tracheobronchitis occurred in half of the patients and were linked to mechanical ventilation. Systemic infection occurred in one-fifth of patients and was more frequent with increasing duration of ICU admission. Direct complications of treatment and invasive procedures occurred infrequently. Life-threatening complications such as gastrointestinal bleeding and pulmonary embolism were very uncommon. Pulmonary morbidity predominates in patients with severe GBS admitted to the ICU. Attention to management of mechanical ventilation and weaning is important to minimize this complication of GBS. Other causes of morbidity in a tertiary center ICU are uncommon.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				M. J. Murray, S. J. Brull, and C. F. Bolton Brief review: Nondepolarizing neuromuscular blocking drugs and critical illness myopathy: [Revue sommaire : les myorelaxants non depolarisants et la myopathie de reanimation]. Can J Anesth, November 1, 2006; 53(11): 1148 - 1156. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				O. Piazza, G. Esposito, E. De Robertis, G. Servillo, and R. Tufano S100B in Guillain-Barre syndrome Br. J. Anaesth., January 1, 2006; 96(1): 141 - 142. [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. C. Durand, H. Prigent, V. Sivadon-Tardy, D. Orlikowski, C. Caudie, C. Devaux, B. Clair, J. -L. Gaillard, F. Lofaso, J. -C. Raphael, et al. Significance of phrenic nerve electrophysiological abnormalities in Guillain-Barre syndrome Neurology, November 22, 2005; 65(10): 1646 - 1649. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. A. C. Hughes, E. F. M. Wijdicks, E. Benson, D. R. Cornblath, A. F. Hahn, J. M. Meythaler, J. T. Sladky, R. J. Barohn, and J. C. Stevens Supportive Care for Patients With Guillain-Barre Syndrome Arch Neurol, August 1, 2005; 62(8): 1194 - 1198. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]