We found a match
Your institution may have access to this item. Find your institution then sign in to continue.
- Title
Direct muscle stimulation in acute quadriplegic myopathy.
- Authors
Rich, Mark M.; Bird, Shawn J.; Raps, Eric C.; McCluskey, Leo F.; Teener, James W.; Rich, M M; Bird, S J; Raps, E C; McCluskey, L F; Teener, J W
- Abstract
We have previously found that muscle is electrically inexcitable in severe acute quadriplegic myopathy (AQM). In contrast, muscle retains normal electrical excitability in peripheral neuropathy. To study the relationship between muscle electrical excitability and all types of flaccid weakness occurring in the intensive care unit, we identified 14 critically ill, weak patients and measured the amplitude of compound muscle action potentials (CMAPs) obtained with direct muscle stimulation (dmCMAP) and with nerve stimulation (neCMAP). In 11 of 14 patients dmCMAP amplitudes were reduced and the ratio of the neCMAP amplitude to the dmCMAP amplitude (nerve/muscle ratio) was indicative of loss of muscle electrical excitability. In 2 other patients, the nerve/muscle ratio indicated neuropathy. Direct muscle stimulation may allow differentiation of AQM from neuropathy even in comatose or encephalopathic critically ill patients. AQM may be more common than has previously been appreciated.
- Subjects
NEURAL conduction; ACTION potentials; ELECTRIC stimulation; QUADRIPLEGIA; ELECTROMYOGRAPHY; MYONEURAL junction
- Publication
Muscle & Nerve, 1997, Vol 20, Issue 6, p665
- ISSN
0148-639X
- Publication type
journal article
- DOI
10.1002/(SICI)1097-4598(199706)20:6<665::AID-MUS2>3.0.CO;2-6