Intensive care of acute Guillain-Barré syndrome.
Guillain-Barré syndrome causes, in addition to paralysis and respiratory failure, many general medical problems that have great bearing on outcome. The main features of daily care that require attention are: respiratory and urinary tract infections, gastrointestinal dysfunction, hyponatremia, pain control, and the potential for pulmonary embolism. Dysautonomic problems that arise specifically in the intensive care unit include: hyper- and hypotension, cardiac arrhythmias, and ileus. Throughout the illness, certain psychological aberrations and communication problems must be addressed. The experience reviewed herein provides a practical approach to these problems.
Ropper
A H
AH
Neurology Service, St. Elizabeth's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02135.
D000208:Acute Disease; D001342:Autonomic Nervous System Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D003142:Communication; D003422:Critical Care; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D059408:Pain Management; D011129:Polyradiculoneuropathy / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000517:prevention & control; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000517:prevention & control; D014552:Urinary Tract Infections / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy