Experiences with Guillain-Barré syndrome in a pediatric intensive care unit

During a 10-year period 16 children with acute Guillain-Barre syndrome were seen. Eleven were admitted to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, either because of difficulty of breathing and swallowing or because of symptoms of autonomic disturbance. Six patients were mechanically ventilated for a mean period of 17 days. Symptoms of autonomic disturbance were frequently seen especially in the mechanically ventilated patients. Two patients died because of cardiac arrhythmia. Methods of detecting patients at risk for cardiac dysrhythmia are suggested.