title: Early signs of critical illness polyneuropathy in ICU patients with systemic inflammatory response syndrome or sepsis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate with electromyography the incidence and the time of appearance of neuromuscular abnormality in patients with systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) and/or sepsis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Follow-up study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Intensive care unit of Helsinki University Hospital, Finland.
  
  
  METHODS
  Nine mechanically ventilated patients with SIRS and/or sepsis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Electromyography and conduction velocity measurements on the 2nd-5th day after admission to the intensive care unit.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In all nine patients electromyography revealed signs of neuromuscular abnormality. The means of compound muscle action potential amplitudes of the median and ulnar nerves were decreased. Fibrillation was observed in four patients out of nine.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Because neuromuscular abnormalities seem to develop earlier than previously reported, electroneuromyography should be used more frequently as a diagnostic test.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, Helsinki University Hospital, Finland. arto.tennila@pel.hel.fi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tennilä
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Salmi
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Pettilä
authors.forename: R O
authors.initials: RO
authors.lastname: Roine
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Varpula
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Takkunen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016638:Critical Illness; D004576:Electromyography; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009102:Multiple Organ Failure / Q000150:complications; D009468:Neuromuscular Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D018805:Sepsis / Q000150:complications*; D018746:Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome / Q000150:complications*