A. Tennila et al., Early signs of critical illness polyneuropathy in ICU patients with systemic inflammatory response syndrome or sepsis, INTEN CAR M, 26(9), 2000, pp. 1360-1363
Objective: To evaluate with electromyography the incidence and the time of
appearance of neuromuscular abnormality in patients with systemic inflammat
ory response syndrome (SIRS) and/or sepsis.
Design: Follow-up study.
Setting: Intensive care unit of Helsinki University Hospital, Finland.
Patients: Nine mechanically ventilated patients with SIRS and/or sepsis.
Interventions: Electromyography and conduction velocity measurements on the
2nd-5th day after admission to the intensive care unit.
Measurements and results: In all nine patients electromyography revealed si
gns of neuromuscular abnormality. The means of compound muscle action poten
tial amplitudes of the median and ulnar nerves were decreased. Fibrillation
was observed in four patients out of nine.
Conclusion: Because neuromuscular abnormalities seem to develop earlier tha
n previously reported, electroneuromyography should be used more frequently
as a diagnostic test.