Guillain-Barre syndrome: delayed diagnosis following anaesthesia

Guillain-Barre syndrome following anaesthesia or surgery is rare. Diagnosis is often delayed, which may lead to an increase in morbidity. There is now good evidence that early diagnosis and treatment reduces this morbidity. T he two cases highlight the difficulties with diagnosis in the perioperative period and further discuss the aetiology, diagnostic features and complica tions of childhood Guillain-Barre syndrome.