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Background: The diagnostic accuracy of high-resolution ultrasonography (HRUS) in comparison to electro-diagnostic testing (EDX) in carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is debatable. Objective: The aim of this study was to compare the diagnostic accuracy of HRUS with EDX in patients with various grades of CTS and CTS associated with peripheral neuropathy (CTS + PNP). Materials and Methods: A prospective cohort of 57 patients with possible CTS was studied along with matched controls. The cross-sectional area (CSA) of the median nerve at the inlet of carpal tunnel was assessed by a sonologist blinded to the clinical and EDX data. Palm wrist distal sensory latency difference (PWDSLD), second lumbrical-interosseus distal motor latency difference (2LIDMLD) and CSA were compared in patients with different grades of severity of CTS and CTS + PNP. Results: Total 92 hands of 57 patients met the clinical criteria for CTS. Mean CSA at the inlet of carpal tunnel was 0.11 ± 0.0275 cm². It had the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive values of 76.43%, 72.72%, 89.47% and 68%, respectively (P < 0.0001). Overall, HRUS had good correlation with PWDSLD and 2LIDMLD electro-diagnostic studies in all grades of CTS and CTS + PNP. Conclusion: HRUS can be used as a complementary screening tool to EDX. However, EDX has been found to be more sensitive and specific in mild CTS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The objective of the study is to develop and validate a predictor score for assessing the requirement of mechanical ventilation (MV) in patients with Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS). Study design: The study was conducted in patients admitted with GBS in neurointensive care unit in a tertiary care hospital. The demographic, clinical factors, electrophysiological, and spirometric data of all consecutive patients were prospectively collected. The study was undertaken in 2 stages. In the first stage, data were collected for development of a predictor score. In the second stage, the score developed was validated on a separate set of patient data. Results: The data collected were compared between the 2 groups (ventilated vs nonventilated). On univariate analysis, time taken to reach maximum deficit, neck weakness, bulbar weakness, facial weakness, single breath count (SBC), forced vital capacity, and phrenic nerve latency predicted the need for MV. On multivariate analysis, only neck weakness, bulbar weakness, SBC, and forced vital capacity were independent predictors of MV. There was a good correlation between SBC and the spirometric tests and phrenic nerve distal motor latency, as reflected in receiver operating characteristics curve. The predictor score developed using the regression coefficient of independent predictors showed that the best cutoff score for prediction of ventilation was 60 (sensitivity, 0.95; 1 - specificity, 0.065). Internal cross validation of the neck weakness, SBC, and bulbar palsy (NSB) score showed good correlation (Pearson R = 0.76; P = .00). There was no statistically significant difference between predicted and observed outcomes (sensitivity, 95%; specificity, 93%). Conclusion: Several independent risk factors were found to predict the requirement for MV in patients with GBS at admission. However, after scoring and analyzing them, it was found that combining a few of them was more useful to predict the need for MV. A model using NSB score, developed using clinical variables, accurately predicted the requirement of MV. In addition, among the NSB score parameters, simple bedside SBC could adequately assess the adequacy of vital capacity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]