Longterm outcome of critical illness polyneuropathy

The aim of this study was to describe the outcome of patients with critical illness polyneuropathy (CIP). Twenty-six patients with CIP were studied to determine the clinical and electrophysiological profile 13-24 months after the onset of CIP. Seven patients refused to participate in the study; 6 pa tients died within the Ist year. Eleven of the 13 survivors showed clinical evidence of polyneuropathy. Five of these patients also had mononeuropathi es, including peroneal and ulnar nerves. The quality of life was markedly i mpaired in all patients. Nerve conduction studies, including limb motor and sensory nerve conductions, bilateral phrenic nerve onset latencies, and bi lateral diaphragmatic compound muscle action potentials, were abnormal in a ll patients. Incomplete recovery within 1-2 years after the onset of diseas e occurs frequently in patients with CIP. (C) 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.