A Patient Suffered from Critical Illness Polyneuropathy during the Treatment of Status Asthmaticus

Abstract

Critical illness polyneuropathy (CIP) is an acute and diffuse motor neuropathy due to axonal dysfunction. We had a case that developed CIP during the treatment of status asthmaticus.
A 71-year-old male patient suffering from asthma was admitted to our intensive care unit for status asthmaticus. After 2 weeks of artificial ventilation, he manifested respiratory muscle weakness and quadriplegia. He was diagnosed with CIP by electrophysiological studies demonstrating axonal neuropathy. It took 3 weeks to wean him from mechanical ventilation and 8 months for him to be able to walk.
This case suggests that we should avoid the predisposing factors which may induce neuropathy or myopathy for critically ill patients. And if they develop paralysis, we have to evaluate not only central nerveous system but also the peripheral one by electrophysiological tests.