Intensive Care Unit Acquired Weakness Associated With Acute Severe Asthma

Diana Borré-Naranjo; Tomás Rodríguez-Yánez; Amilkar Almanza-Hurtado; María Cristina Martínez-Ávila; Carmelo Dueñas-Castell

doi:10.1177/11795476221106759

Intensive Care Unit Acquired Weakness Associated With Acute Severe Asthma

Clin Med Insights Case Rep. 2022 Jun 20:15:11795476221106759. doi: 10.1177/11795476221106759. eCollection 2022.

Authors

Diana Borré-Naranjo¹, Tomás Rodríguez-Yánez¹, Amilkar Almanza-Hurtado¹, María Cristina Martínez-Ávila², Carmelo Dueñas-Castell³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Critical Care Medicine, Universidad de Cartagena, Cartagena, Colombia.
² Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Universidad de Cartagena, Cartagena, Colombia.
³ Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Gestión Salud IPS, Cartagena, Colombia.

Abstract

Context: Neuromuscular complications in the intensive care unit (ICU) are frequent, multifactorial, and clinically difficult to recognize during their acute phase. The physical examination is the starting point for identification.

Case report: We present a patient with a history of poorly controlled asthma who was admitted to the ICU with status asthmaticus. After 4 days of being under ventilatory support, he developed muscle weakness. The diagnostic approach made it possible to establish myopathic and neurological compromise through electrophysiology studies.

Conclusions: ICU-acquired weakness (ICUAW) can bring long-term consequences, early identification, and management, as well as preventive measures, are essential to minimize chronic disability and morbidity.

Keywords: ICU-acquired weakness; Intensive care unit; Muscle weakness; critical illness; diagnosis; risk factors.

Publication types

Case Reports