Facial nerve neurographies in intensive care unit-acquired weakness.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Patients with an intensive care unit-acquired weakness (ICU-AW) often present clinically with severe paresis of the limb and trunk muscles while facial muscles appear less affected. To investigate whether the facial nerves are partially spared from this condition, we performed both peripheral and cranial nerve conduction studies in critically ill patients.

Methods

In patients requiring prolonged ICU therapy, the motor and sensory nerve conduction velocities of the peroneal, ulnar and facial nerves and the muscle action potentials of the associated muscles, as well as the orbicularis oculi reflexes were assessed shortly after admission, and on ICU days 7 and 14.

Results

Eighteen patients were included in the final data analysis (average age 54.2 ± 16.8 years

SUBMITTER: Lochter M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10512492 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature