Neuromuscular disorders: relevance to anaesthesia and intensive care

Neuromuscular diseases are relatively rare, but it is important for both anaesthetists and intensivists to have a working knowledge of the common diseases as they may complicate general anaesthesia and result in neurogenic respiratory failure. The most common neurological condition seen in the intensive care unit is that of critical illness neuropathy; this subject is covered elsewhere in the journal. The diseases most commonly encountered in general anaesthetic practice include motor neurone disease, Guillain-Barré syndrome, botulism, myasthenia gravis and the muscular dystrophies.