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Neuromuscular causes of prolonged ventilator dependency
Author(s) -
Spitzer A. Robert,
Giancarlo Thomas,
Maher Leo,
Awerbuch Gavin,
Bowles Alvin
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
muscle and nerve
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.025
H-Index - 145
eISSN - 1097-4598
pISSN - 0148-639X
DOI - 10.1002/mus.880150609
Subject(s) - neuromuscular disease , critical illness polyneuropathy , medicine , disease , polyneuropathy , physical medicine and rehabilitation , intensive care medicine , critical illness , critically ill
We prospectively evaluated 21 patients with prolonged ventilator dependency, to determine the frequency of unsuspected neuromuscular disease as a cause of this condition, and to determine the types of such diseases. Assessment was performed with routine and specialized electrophyiologic procedures. None of the patients had known prior neuromuscular disease, and none of had ongoing medical problems that could account for their continued ventilator dependency. Sixty‐two precent were found to have a neuromuscular disease severe enough to account for the ventilator dependency. Most of the remaining cases had a contributory neuromuscular disease. In addition to critical illness polyneuropathy, several other significant categories were identified. Myopathic EMG changes were found in 50% of the subgroup assessed by quantitative EMG. We conclude that neuromuscular disease is the most important factor in prolonged ventilator dependency, and that disease other than critical illness polyneuropathy represent an important cause of this syndrome.