EMG and duration of ventilatory support in children with Guillain-Barre syndrome

Abstract

Rationale: Predicting length of stay in the intensive care unit (ICU) in children with Guillain-Barre syndrome may help decision-making at admission. Materials and methods: Between 1996 and 2003, we attended to 30 children with Guillain-Barre syndrome who required ventilatory support in ICU. We prospectively collected different variables that could potentially predict prolonged length of stay and ventilatory support in ICU. Conclusion: Using Cox proportional hazard analysis we found that lack of electrical excitability was the best predictor. © Springer-Verlag 2006.