Electrodiagnostic findings in patients with non-COVID-19- and COVID-19-related acute respiratory distress syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Critical illness polyneuropathy and myopathy (CIPNM) is a frequent neurological manifestation in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection. CIPNM diagnosis is usually limited to clinical evaluation. We compared patients with ARDS from COVID-19 and other aetiologies, in whom a neurophysiological evaluation for the detection of CIPNM was performed. The aim was to determine if there were any differences between these two groups in frequency of CINPM and outcome at discharge from the intensive care unit (ICU). MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a single-centre retrospective study performed on mechanically ventilated patients consecutively admitted (January 2016-June 2020) to the ICU of Careggi Hospital, Florence, Italy, with ARDS of different aetiologies. Neurophysiological evaluation was performed on patients with stable ventilation parameters, but marked widespread hyposthenia (Medical Research Council score <48). Creatine phosphokinase (CPK), lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) and mean morning glycaemic values were collected. RESULTS: From a total of 148 patients, 23 with COVID-19 infection and 21 with ARDS due to other aetiologies, underwent electroneurography/electromyography (ENG/EMG) recording. Incidence of CIPNM was similar in the two groups, 65% (15 of 23) in COVID-19 patients and 71% (15 of 21) in patients affected by ARDS of other aetiologies. At ICU discharge, subjects with CIPNM more frequently required ventilatory support, regardless the aetiology of ARDS. CONCLUSION: ENG/EMG represents a useful tool in the identification of the neuromuscular causes underlying ventilator wean failure and patient stratification. A high incidence of CIPNM, with a similar percentage, has been observed in ARDS patients of all aetiologies.

Therapeutic effect of insulin in reducing critical illness; polyneuropathy and myopathy in the pediatric intensive care unit.

OBJECTIVE: Hyperglycemia may occur in the patients affected by any kind of critical illness. This complication makes an adverse effect on the clinical outcome of these patients by causing polyneuropathy and myopathy. It has been recently shown that treatment of hyperglycemia with insulin administration significantly reduces the prevalence of critical illness polyneuropathy and myopathy (CIPNM) and on the other hand reduces the demand for long-term mechanical ventilation in the patients admitted to the ICU for more than 1 week. The aim of this study was to determine the therapeutic effect of insulin in reducing the incidence of CIPNM in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU). MATERIALS & METHODS: In this study, we recruited 30 patients admitted to the PICU of Tabriz Pediatric Hospital. The incidence of CIPNM following hyperglycemia was evaluated in these patients. The patients were categorized into two groups. In the case group, blood sugar was controlled in the range of 140-180mg/dl by administration of 0.05 unit per kilogram body weight of insulin as drip protocol in an hour and in the control group, placebo was used. Consequently, the incidence of CIPNM, duration of PICU and duration of mechanical ventilation were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: The incidence of CIPNM and duration of PICU stay and mechanical ventilation were significantly reduced in the patients treated with insulin compared to the control group. CONCLUSION: This study shows that blood sugar control decreases the incidence of CIPNM.