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Electrophysiological tests in intensive care

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 February 2008

M. Botteri  and
B. Guarneri
M. Botteri*
Affiliation:
Spedali Civili di Brescia, Piazza Spedali Civili, *Servizio di Anestesia e Rianimazione, Italy
B. Guarneri
Affiliation:
Spedali Civili di Brescia, Piazza Spedali Civili, Servizio di Neurofisiopatologia Brescia, Italy
*
Correspondence to: Marco Botteri, 2° Servizio di Anestesia e Rianimazione Spedali Civili di Brescia, Piazza Spedali Civili, 1 25123 Brescia, Italy. E-mail: marcobotteri@alice.it; Tel: +39 030 3995764; Fax: +39 030 3995570
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Summary

Neuromuscular complications encountered in intensive care can be due to peripheral nerves (polyneuropathies), muscles (myopathies), neuromuscular end-plate (transmission deficit) or a combination of these. Neurophysiopathological tests that enable us to diagnose and maybe differentiate between these causes are essentially electroneurographs and electromyographs. These assess, either directly or indirectly, the integrity of the peripheral system, both sensory (centripetal afferent pathways) and motor (lower motor neurones, neuromuscular junction, muscle membrane and contractile substrate). Electrical activity in the muscle is measured using a special device (an electromyograph) comprising preamplifiers, a computer with special programmes and algorithms for analysing, digitalizing, amplifying and filtering the recorded signal and a monitor on which to visualize the on-line trace. The machine also has speakers. These serve to recognize and identify the physiological events being recorded as they make such unusual, individual sounds. An electric stimulator with constant current can be used to stimulate branches of superficial nerves (motor, sensory or mixed) so that electric conduction speed can be studied and the sensory or motor response analysed. The results can be saved on a hard disc or on any magnetic or digital support, viewed off-line or even printed.

Keywords

POLYNEUROPATHYCRITICAL CAREMUSCULAR DISEASESNEUROMUSCULAR DISEASESELECTROMYOGRAPHYNERVE CONDUCTION
Type
Original Article
Information
European Journal of Anaesthesiology , Volume 25 , Issue S42 , February 2008 , pp. 174 - 180
Copyright
Copyright © European Society of Anaesthesiology 2008

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