ICU-acquired weakness

Clinical manifestations

• muscle weakness
  • proximal & distal symmetric flaccid weakness
  • sparing of cranial nerves
• failure to weaning from ventilation is often 1st sign

* diagnosis of exclusion

Diagnostic procedures

• Medical Research Council muscle scale 1st step in evalutating ICU-acquired weakness (rarely used)

Management

• aggressive management of critical illness
• early mobilization
• management of hyperglycemia

More general terms

• critical illness syndrome

Additional terms

• critical illness weakness; critical illness neuromyopathy