title: A framework for diagnosing and classifying intensive care unit-acquired weakness.
abstract: Neuromuscular dysfunction is prevalent in critically ill patients, is associated with worse short-term outcomes, and is a determinant of long-term disability in intensive care unit survivors. Diagnosis is made with the help of clinical, electrophysiological, and morphological observations; however, the lack of a consistent nomenclature remains a barrier to research. We propose a simple framework for diagnosing and classifying neuromuscular disorders acquired in critical illness.
authors.affiliation: Division of Neurosciences Critical Care, Department of Anesthesiology Critical Care Medicine, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA. rstevens@jhmi.edu
authors.forename: Robert D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Stevens
authors.forename: Scott A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Marshall
authors.forename: David R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Cornblath
authors.forename: Ahmet
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hoke
authors.forename: Dale M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Needham
authors.forename: Bernard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: de Jonghe
authors.forename: Naeem A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Ali
authors.forename: Tarek
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sharshar
mesh_terms: D001510:Bed Rest; D003422:Critical Care / Q000379:methods; D016638:Critical Illness / Q000145:classification*; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D018908:Muscle Weakness / Q000145:classification* / Q000175:diagnosis; D009460:Neurologic Examination / Q000379:methods; D009468:Neuromuscular Diseases / Q000145:classification* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control