POLYNEUROPATHY DEVELOPING IN CRITICALLY I LL PATIENTS - CRITICAL ILLNESS POLYNEUROPATHY

Polyneuropathy developing in critically ill patients (''critical illne ss polyneuropathy'' - CIP) is diagnosed with increasing frequency in i ntensive care units. CIP is an axonal polyneuropathy leading to diffic ulties in weaning from artificial ventilation and symmetrical flaccid tetraparesis. Pathogenetically CIP is considered to be part of the mul tiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) in the course of sepsis or sys temic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS). The incidence of CIP in s eptic patients with MODS ranges from 50% to 70%. Electroneurography (E NG) and electromyography (EMG) are essential diagnostic procedures. Th e mortality in patients with CIP is higher than in patients without CI P. Depending on the severity of CIP, recovery of neurological function in survivors is usually relatively good.