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 Volume 60, Number 1, January 14, 2003
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Neurology 2003;60:17-21
© 2003 American Academy of Neurology
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The morbidity of Guillain-Barré syndrome admitted to the intensive care unit

R.D. Henderson, FRACP, N.D. Lawn, FRACP, D.D. Fletcher, MD, R.L. McClelland, PhD and E.F.M. Wijdicks, MD

From the Department of Neurology (Drs. Henderson, Lawn, Fletcher, and Wijdicks), Neurological-Neurosurgical Intensive Care Unit, Saint Mary’s Hospital, and Section of Biostatistics (Dr. McClelland), Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN.

Address correspondence and reprint requests to Dr. E.F.M. Wijdicks, Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic–W8A, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN 55905; e-mail: wijde{at}mayo.edu

Patients with severe forms of Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) require intensive care. Specific treatment, catheterization, and devices may increase morbidity in the intensive care unit (ICU). To understand the spectrum of morbidity associated with ICU care, the authors studied 114 patients with GBS. Major morbidity occurred in 60% of patients. Complications were uncommon if ICU stay was less than 3 weeks. Respiratory complications such as pneumonia and tracheobronchitis occurred in half of the patients and were linked to mechanical ventilation. Systemic infection occurred in one-fifth of patients and was more frequent with increasing duration of ICU admission. Direct complications of treatment and invasive procedures occurred infrequently. Life-threatening complications such as gastrointestinal bleeding and pulmonary embolism were very uncommon. Pulmonary morbidity predominates in patients with severe GBS admitted to the ICU. Attention to management of mechanical ventilation and weaning is important to minimize this complication of GBS. Other causes of morbidity in a tertiary center ICU are uncommon.




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