[Acute respiratory failure in neuromuscular disease]

Rev Med Suisse. 2015 Sep 30;11(488):1809-14.
[Article in French]

Abstract

Neuromuscular diseases can affect all respiratory muscles, leading to acute respiratory failure, which is the most common cause of morbidity and mortality in those patients. Two situations must be distinguished. 1) Acute respiratory failure as part of a neuromuscular disorder of acute onset and possibly reversible (Guillain-Barre syndrome, myasthenic crisis...). 2) Acute respiratory failure occurring in a patient with an already advanced neuromuscular disease (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Duchenne muscular dystrophy...). This article describes the neuromuscular acute respiratory failure in these different aspects, discusses its initial management in the emergency department and identifies the parameters that have to be monitored.

Publication types

  • English Abstract

MeSH terms

  • Acute Disease
  • Humans
  • Neuromuscular Diseases / physiopathology*
  • Respiratory Insufficiency / diagnosis
  • Respiratory Insufficiency / physiopathology*
  • Respiratory Muscles / physiopathology*