title: Neuromuscular complications of sepsis.
abstract: Sepsis and multiple organ failure are major problems in medical and surgical intensive care units. Critical illness polyneuropathy occurs in 70% of these patients. Difficulty in weaning from the ventilator is an early sign. Electrophysiological studies are necessary to establish the diagnosis; these studies show an axonal degeneration of peripheral nerve fibres. Recovery occurs in weeks or months, depending upon severity. Muscle biopsy reveals denervation atrophy. Sepsis itself does not induce a neuromuscular transmission defect, but neuromuscular blocking agents may increase the severity of critical illness polyneuropathy. If steroids are used in addition to neuromuscular blocking agents, a severe myopathy may result. Other effects on muscle are cachectic myopathy and panfascicular muscle fibre necrosis. A variety of combinations of these conditions may affect the same patient. Only well-designed prospective studies will determine the true effect of these medications on the neuromuscular system in septic patients.
authors.affiliation: University of Western Ontario, Victoria Hospital, London, Canada.
authors.forename: C F
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Bolton
mesh_terms: D001706:Biopsy; D003422:Critical Care; D016638:Critical Illness; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004594:Electrophysiology; D006801:Humans; D009466:Neuromuscular Blocking Agents / Q000009:adverse effects; D009468:Neuromuscular Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D011379:Prognosis; D018805:Sepsis / Q000150:complications*
chemical_list: D009466:Neuromuscular Blocking Agents