Peripheral neuropathy and neuromuscular blockade presenting as prolonged respiratory paralysis following critical illness.
We report two patients who following critical illness presented with generalised paralysis associated with persistent failure to breathe. Both patients eventually recovered and were weaned from the ventilator. The cause of the paralysis was an unusual peripheral neuropathy in the first patient and persistent neuromuscular blockade secondary to vecuronium in the second. It is important to consider a reversible, possibly even iatrogenic, cause of this type of complication.
Heckmatt
J Z
JZ
Department of Neurology, Children's Hospital, London, UK.
Pitt
M C
MC
Kirkham
F
F
D000208:Acute Disease; D001933:Brain Stem / Q000503:physiopathology; D002648:Child; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D009431:Neural Conduction; D009466:Neuromuscular Blocking Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D015835:Ocular Motility Disorders / Q000150:complications; D010523:Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D012026:Reflex, Stretch; D012119:Respiration; D012133:Respiratory Paralysis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology
D009466:Neuromuscular Blocking Agents