title: Intensive care experience in Guillain-Barre syndrome.
abstract: In a retrospective study of 34 patients with acute Guillain-Barre syndrome admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU) during a six year period from January 1984 to December 1989, for bulbar paresis or impending respiratory failure, 4 required endotracheal intubation to protect the airway, and 27 required mechanical ventilation. A high incidence of respiratory complications was noted. Two patients died of cardiovascular instability. Close monitoring of respiratory and cardiovascular status is essential to ensure survival.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, University of Peradeniya.
authors.forename: R H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Gunawardana
authors.forename: P S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Shanmuganathan
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ponniah
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003422:Critical Care; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011129:Polyradiculoneuropathy / Q000150:complications / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D012121:Respiration, Artificial; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014139:Tracheostomy