| Objective
Determining the predictors of respiratory failure and duration of
intubation in children with Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS).
Materials & Methods
Children diagnosed with GBS at Tabriz Children’s Hospital were
studied. Factors associated with and influencing respiratory failure
as well as the duration of intubation were determined using both
univariate and multiple analyses.
Results
Overall, 324 children were enrolled in the study, 54.0% of whom were
males. Thirty-one (9.6%) patients underwent mechanical ventilation,
the patients under 5 years old were more prone to the requirement of
mechanical ventilation (11.3% vs. 6.9%). Cases hospitalized in winter
were more likely to need ventilation compared to those hospitalized in
spring (OR =7.00; 95% CI:1.51-32.53). Also, autonomic involvement
(OR=8.88, 95% CI:4.03-19.58; p<0.001) and cranial nerves
involvement (OR=9.88, 95% CI:3.68 - 26.52; p<0.001) emerged as
risk factors for mechanical ventilation requirement. Overall, 16.1% of
patients with axonal electrophysiologic pattern required mechanical
ventilation compared to 7.4% of those with demyelinating type
(OR:2.15, 95% CI: 1.01-4.69). In univariate analysis, the only variable
that showed a correlation with the duration of intubation was axonal
electrophysiologic pattern (p= 0.028).
Conclusion
Approximately, 10% of the patients required mechanical ventilation.
Season, cranial nerve involvement, autonomic dysfunction and
electrophysiologic pattern were the most important variables in
predicting respiratory failure and duration of mechanical ventilation. |