Neuromuscular Disorders in the ICU

Neuromuscular diseases are conditions of the motor unit affecting the nervous system, inclusively between the anterior horn cells and the muscle. The occurrence of some of these conditions can lead to admission to the intensive care unit (ICU): weakness can impair breathing and disrupt airway protection. Many neuromuscular diseases are also associated with autonomic instability. Furthermore, critically ill patients may develop neuromuscular involvement as a consequence of long ICU stays. In this chapter, we describe a general approach to the problems of the neuromuscular disease in the neurological ICU.