What is new in prevention of muscle weakness in critically ill patients?

Excerpt

Muscle weakness is as common as arterial hypotension in critically ill patients, but the degree and consequences of muscle weakness vary depending on the multi-factorial pathophysiology of intensive care unit (ICU) acquired muscle weakness (ICUAW). A septic encephalopathy typically recovers with successful sepsis treatment, and difficulty in weaning from mechanical ventilation or limb muscle weakness can be the first signs noted during the early ICU stage. Multiple mechanisms of inflammation such as sepsis, trauma, injury, tumor, renal and liver failure, immobilization (due to bed rest, deep sedation, and neuromuscular blockade), and malnutrition induce persistent ICU-acquired peripheral neuromuscular diseases such as muscle wasting, critical illness myopathy, and neuropathy [1]. Critical illness myopathy and neuropathy may persist for years after discharge from the acute care hospital. Quality of life of ICU survivors is affected by impairments of functional mobility even 5 years after ICU discharge [2]. …