Guillain Barre Flashcards
Define Guillain-Barre
Acute and autoimmune polyneuritis. Progressive and fairly symmetric muscle weakness accompanied by absent or depressed deep tendon reflexes
What is the range of weakness?
Difficulty walking to nearly total paralysis
What are the most common symptoms?
Weakness in the hands and feet
What are the symptoms of Guillain Barre?
Weakness in the hands and feet
Pain in back and extremities
Dysautonomia (messes with the autonomic nervous system): tachycardia, labile BP, orthostatic hypoTN, ileus, urinary retention
What proceeds the onset of Guillain Barre syndrome?
Viral infection or immunization, trauma or surgery
When does a patient with GBS reach nadir?
4 weeks
How is GBS diagnosed?
Hx and physical
CSF will show an increase in protein and normal WBC count one week after infection
Nerve conduction studies and EMG –> dx and prognosis
What should you watch for when doing a physical assessment of GBS?
Deterioration happens quickly!
Need for mechanical ventilation
Gag and corneal reflex presence
VS –> autonomic effects!
What is the plan of care for GBS?
Physical assessment Nutritional interventions Pain-management Monitor for urinary retention Patient and family support and teaching
What is plasmapheresis?
Removal of antibodies, complement, and soluble biological response modifiers
4-6 treatments over 8-10 days
Besides plasmapheresis, what other intervention can be done to treat the disease?
IV immune globulin
5 days
True or False: combining plasmapheresis and IV immune globulin speeds up recovery?
False, providing both does not seem to benefit the patient
When should therapy be administered?
Within 4 weeks of onset
What is the prognosis for GBS?
High survival rate, most completely recover
However, some may suffer residual weakness
