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Manual Muscle Testing: A Method of Measuring Extremity Muscle Strength Applied to Critically Ill Patients

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Neuromuscular dysfunction in critical illness: what are we dealing with?

D D Kennedy¹, N Fletcher, C Hinds

¹Intensive Care Unit, St. Bartholomew's Hospital, West Smithfield, London, UK. S.A.Sims@mds.qmw.ac.uk

Current Opinion in Anaesthesiology

|October 4, 2006

Summary

Critical illness survivors frequently experience debilitating neuromuscular weakness. This often involves axonal polyneuropathy and muscle damage, but the exact causes remain unclear.

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Measuring Neuromuscular Junction Functionality

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Published on: August 6, 2017

Area of Science:

Critical care medicine
Neurology
Pathology

Background:

Neuromuscular weakness is a common, debilitating condition in critical illness survivors.
Neurophysiological abnormalities, particularly axonal polyneuropathy, are frequently observed.
Muscle pathology often shows atrophy and necrosis, but the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

To elucidate the precise nature and aetiology of neuromuscular weakness in critical illness survivors.

Main Methods:

Neurophysiological assessments (e.g., electromyography, nerve conduction studies).
Muscle biopsy and histological analysis.
Clinical data collection and correlation.

Main Results:

Ubiquitous neurophysiological abnormalities consistent with axonal polyneuropathy.
High incidence of muscle atrophy and necrosis in available histological samples.
Identification of specific patterns of nerve and muscle damage.

Conclusions:

Neuromuscular weakness in critical illness survivors is a complex disorder with distinct pathological features.
Axonal polyneuropathy and muscle degeneration are key components.
Further research is needed to fully understand the aetiology and develop targeted treatments.