ABSTRACT
Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is a randomly acquired inflammatory disease that affects approximately 2 persons in 100,000 annually. There have been no discriminating risk factors identified including age, sex, or race. The syndrome results in the demyelination of peripheral nerves, which leads to progressive motor weakness and paralysis. The critical care nurse should gain from this article an overview of Guillain-Barré syndrome during the acute phase. Included is the pathophysiology of the syndrome, clinical presentation, acute phase nursing assessment and management, and currently available treatment options.
Subject(s)
Critical Care/methods , Guillain-Barre Syndrome/therapy , Nurse's Role , Acute Disease , Anti-Inflammatory Agents/therapeutic use , Causality , Cerebrospinal Fluid , Disease Progression , Filtration , Guillain-Barre Syndrome/diagnosis , Guillain-Barre Syndrome/epidemiology , Guillain-Barre Syndrome/etiology , Humans , Immunoglobulins, Intravenous/therapeutic use , Monitoring, Physiologic/nursing , Nursing Assessment , Patient Selection , Plasma Exchange , Recovery of Function , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
Immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome is a constellation of clinical manifestations seen in patients with HIV/AIDS who are taking highly active antiretroviral therapy. The revitalization of their immune systems by these medications leads to the emergence of opportunistic infections that had been treated previously and those never treated. Some of these diseases have serious ramifications if undetected. To care for these patients, the critical-care nurse must be aware of their presentation and treatment.
Subject(s)
Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active/adverse effects , Critical Illness/nursing , HIV Infections/drug therapy , Immune Reconstitution Inflammatory Syndrome/chemically induced , Immune Reconstitution Inflammatory Syndrome/nursing , HIV Infections/nursing , HumansABSTRACT
Pneumocystis pneumonia and AIDS have been linked together for many years. In the 1980s and 1990s, these diseases often resulted in admission to the critical care unit for many patients. Since the discovery of antiretroviral therapy and Pneumocystis prophylaxis, this has been a less frequent occurrence. Knowledge about caring for this patient in the critical care unit is often not available. Psychological and physiological needs common to this population are different from other populations and must be addressed. Pharmacological challenges are common and may go unrecognized until complications ensue. This article seeks to alleviate some of the mystery associated with these issues.