Guillain Barre Syndrome

• Guillain-Barre Syndrome is an autoimmune disorder occuring after a viral or bacterial infection that causes injury to the myelin sheath leading to edema and inflammation and therefore flaccid paralysis that starts from proximal (feet) to distal pattern
• Maximum weakness occurs in 4 weeks and recovery starts at 28 days
• Clinical Signs

  • weakness, paresthesia, hypotonia, weak reflexes
  • orthostatic hypotension, hypertension, muscle aches, decreased appetite, worse at night, hyperesthesia
  • Eventually respiratory compromise
• paresthesia is numbness
• Diagnostic studies

  • ESR
  • CSF analysis
• Nursing management

  • Neuro: check LOC
  • Respiratory: monitor ABGs and RR
  • Cardiac: monitor BP and HR
  • Fever: get sputum and blood cultures and give antibiotics
  • Give immunoglobulin treatments