The Pathophysiology of Neuromuscular Dysfunction in Critical Illness

Matteo Parotto; Jane Batt; Margaret Herridge

doi:10.1016/j.ccc.2018.06.010

The Pathophysiology of Neuromuscular Dysfunction in Critical Illness

Crit Care Clin. 2018 Oct;34(4):549-556. doi: 10.1016/j.ccc.2018.06.010. Epub 2018 Aug 14.

Authors

Matteo Parotto¹, Jane Batt², Margaret Herridge³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Anesthesia, University of Toronto, 123 Edward Street, Toronto, ON M5G 1E2, Canada; Department of Anesthesia and Pain Management, Toronto General Hospital, EN 442 - 200 Elizabeth Street, Toronto, ON M5G 2C4, Canada; Interdepartmental Division of Critical Care Medicine, University of Toronto, 209 Victoria Street, Toronto, ON M5B 1T8, Canada. Electronic address: matteo.parotto@uhn.ca.
² Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, 1 King's College Cir, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada; Keenan Research Centre for Biomedical Research, 30 Bond St, Toronto, ON M5B 1W8, Canada.
³ Interdepartmental Division of Critical Care Medicine, University of Toronto, 209 Victoria Street, Toronto, ON M5B 1T8, Canada; Department of Medicine, University Health Network, 190 Elizabeth Street, Toronto, ON M5G 2C4, Canada.

PMID: 30223993
DOI: 10.1016/j.ccc.2018.06.010

Abstract

Disability after critical illness is heterogeneous and related to multiple morbidities. Muscle and nerve injury represent prevalent and important determinants of long-term disability. As the population ages and accrues a greater burden of comorbid illness and medical complexity, those patients admitted to an intensive care unit will be challenged in their recovery because of diminished organ reserve and variable tissue resiliency. This represents a significant burgeoning public health concern. This article presents a brief overview of the pathophysiology and the emerging basic science of neuromuscular dysfunction in critical illness.

Keywords: Critical illness; Intensive care unit outcome; Neuromuscular dysfunction; Polymyopathy; Polyneuropathy.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Autophagy
Critical Illness*
Humans
Neuromuscular Diseases / physiopathology*
Proteolysis
Risk Factors