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Prolonged muscle weakness after neuromuscular blockade in the intensive care unit.

As noted, quadriparesis with reduced reflexes and difficulty with ventilator weaning may be seen as a result of a number of neuromuscular disorders. The clinical approach relies on exclusion of a central cause first, followed by careful examination of peripheral nerve and muscle function. Persistent neuromuscular blockade should be excluded initially because it is a readily reversible condition. Use of a train of four stimulation with a peripheral twitch monitor can quickly establish integrity of conduction across the neuromuscular junction. If necessary, further electrophysiologic studies allow differentiation among the relevant diagnostic possibilities. CIP is characterized by nerve conduction and EMG findings consistent with axonal degeneration of sensory and motor fibers. GBS is distinguished by evidence of demyelination on nerve conduction studies, in addition to elevated spinal fluid protein. Persistent neuromuscular blockade is identified by a decremental response on repetitive stimulation studies of neuromuscular transmission. The acute myopathy following neuromuscular blockage does not involve sensory responses. Needle EMG examination reflects a myopathic pattern, rather than a neurogenic one as seen in CIP or GBS. In myopathic patients who are unable to move their limbs at all (precluding a full EMG examination), a muscle biopsy identifies muscle as the site of involvement.

Adult↗

Muscle weakness after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction using patellar and quadriceps tendons.

Eighty-five knees of 85 patients who underwent anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with autologous patellar and quadriceps tendon grafts were followed for 3-7 years. Hamstrings strength improved to normal. Quadriceps strength in men returned to the preoperative level, but not to normal strength. Quadriceps strength in women, at the final follow-up, was significantly less than it had been preoperatively. This weakness may be a consequence of impairment of the knee extensor mechanism resulting from harvesting the graft. Although favorable postoperative stability of the knee was obtained, we do not recommend this technique for ACL reconstruction because of the quadriceps weakness.

Adolescent↗

Distinguishing between extrinsic and intrinsic tongue muscle weakness in unilateral hypoglossal palsy.

A 53-year-old man presented with multiple right cranial nerve palsies that included the tongue. When the tongue was protruded, it deviated to the right. However, when the tongue was not protruded, he could readily turn the tip of the tongue to the left, but not to the right. Protrusion of the tongue requires the action of extrinsic tongue muscles, but lateral movements of the nonprotruded tongue are accomplished by intrinsic tongue muscles.

Humans↗

Respiratory muscle weakness in uremic patients under continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis.

The increasingly frequent use of continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) as substitutive therapy in terminal renal failure has induced the investigation of the advantages and disadvantages of this therapeutic modality. The effects of CAPD on pulmonary function are one of the aspects currently under study. Based on previous data suggesting the existence of extrapulmonary ventilatory restriction in uremic patients under CAPD, we have studied in these patients the respiratory muscle function as expressed in the maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP) and assessed the impact of the infusion of 2 liters of dialysis fluid into the peritoneal cavity on both MIP and the pulmonary volumes. Uremic patients evidenced significantly lower MIP values as compared with healthy controls. The filling of the peritoneal cavity induced, both in the supine and in the sitting position, a restrictive effect and an increase in the inspiratory capacity. We conclude that uremic patients under CAPD evidence a respiratory muscle dysfunction of as yet unclear cause. Our findings further suggest that the infusion of 2 liters of dialysis fluid into the peritoneal cavity induces not only a restrictive effect, but also an increase in the strength of the respiratory muscles, the latter effect being probably due to increased diaphragmatic contractility.

Adult↗