Paralysis caused by carbohydrate during intensive care
Waldhausen, E.; Keser, G.
Der Anaesthesist 40(6): 332-338
1991
ISSN/ISBN: 0003-2417 PMID: 1909102 Document Number: 382088
In 30 septic, edematous intensive care patients a polyneuropathy occurred during treatment of peritonitis, pancreatitis, adult respiratory distress syndrome, or bronchopneumonia; 28 patients developed a complete tetraplegia. We believe this neuropathy to be an important cause of weaning failure. All patients had received parenteral or enteral nutrition with 240-800 g carbohydrate per day. Clinical data indicate that impairment of carbohydrate metabolism was the essential cause of the polyneuropathy. In 14 patients carbohydrate administration was continued; 13 died without neuromuscular recovery. In 16 patients carbohydrate nutrition was reduced to 100-250 g per day after the occurrence of tetraplegia; 13 of these made a full neurologic recovery.