[Respiratory insufficiency in adults with diphtheric polyneuropathy]

Twenty-five adult patients with grave diphtheric polyneuropathy after toxic diphtheria were followed up. Two symptom complexes of neurologic disorders leading to the development of peripheral respiratory failure of different severity were distinguished: 1) predominating glossopharyngeal paralysis and 2) combination of glossopharyngeal paralysis with grave generalized sensorimotor polyneuropathy (with pareses and paralyses of the respiratory muscles). The major quantitative parameters of pulmonary functions associated with various manifestations of respiratory failure are characterized. The significance of information on the type of dysfunction of vocal cords is emphasized. A high efficacy of a complex of respiratory reanimation used in the treatment of patients with peripheral respiratory failure is demonstrated.