PURPOSE OF REVIEW:

The goals of this review are to discuss the pathophysiology and determinants of muscle weakness and neuromuscular dysfunction after critical illness, and to offer thoughts regarding the role of future longitudinal studies in this area.

RECENT FINDINGS:

While recent studies support the finding that neuromuscular dysfunction is common and important after critical illness, reversible risk factors and approaches to prevention and treatment remain unproven. Pathophysiologic studies implicate disease and treatment associated factors in the development of nerve and muscle damage during critical illness; these factors may provide targets for future studies.

SUMMARY:

Additional studies with improved methodology that address epidemiology and that test interventions are needed to understand and to improve neuromuscular function after critical illness.