Intensive care for respiratory failure in Guillain-Barré syndrome

Although relatively uncommon, Guillain-Barré syndrome remains the most frequent cause of sudden weakness in persons under the age of 40 years. While most patients enjoy spontaneous resolution of their neurologic deficits, death still occurs in some individuals who suffer secondary complications from profound respiratory muscle weakness. This review of patients with ascending paralysis who required intubation and mechanical ventilation underscores that the major factors which contribute to death and morbidity can be anticipated and largely avoided using a vigilant multidisciplinary approach.