Adynamic ileus in severe Guillain-Barre syndrome

Adynamic ileus occurred in 17 of 114 patients (15%) with severe Guillain-Ba rre syndrome (GBS). Cardiovascular dysautonomia coincided with ileus in onl y five patients. In four patients, mechanical ventilation and immobilizatio n could be implicated; and in eight patients, preexisting conditions such a s prior abdominal surgery or incremental doses of opioids could be linked t o ileus. Medical management was successful in all patients. Patients with G BS infrequently develop ileus as a manifestation of dysautonomia. (C) 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.