title: The cardiac R-R variation and sympathetic skin response in the intensive care unit.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The central and peripheral nervous systems are often affected in intensive care unit (ICU) patients, especially those with prolonged assisted ventilation and sepsis or systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS). The autonomic nervous system, however, has been under-investigated in such patients. We evaluated autonomic nervous system (ANS) function in 29 ICU patients with various neurological disorders.
  
  
  METHODS
  Testing involved cardiac R-R variation (CRRV) as an index of parasympathetic function and the sympathetic skin response (SSR) for sympathetic assessment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Only those 8 patients with sepsis-related neuropathy or encephalopathy had abnormal CRRV, while the SSR was absent in all but 2 patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our preliminary study revealed a high incidence of autonomic dysfunction in ICU patients with various neurological disorders.
authors.affiliation: From the Division of Neurology. University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Charles
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bolton
authors.forename: Jillian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Thompson
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bernardi
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Voll
authors.forename: Bryan
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Young
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D001342:Autonomic Nervous System Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D017776:Autonomic Pathways / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D005712:Galvanic Skin Response; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011115:Polyneuropathies / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012867:Skin / Q000294:innervation / Q000503:physiopathology; D017779:Sympathetic Fibers, Postganglionic / Q000503:physiopathology; D018746:Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012122:Ventilators, Mechanical / Q000009:adverse effects