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Objective:

Intensive care unit-acquired weakness indicates increased morbidity and mortality. Nonexcitable muscle membrane after direct muscle stimulation develops early and predicts intensive care unit-acquired weakness in sedated, mechanically ventilated patients. A comparison of muscle histology at an early stage in intensive care unit-acquired weakness has not been done. We investigated whether nonexcitable muscle membrane indicates fast-twitch myofiber atrophy during the early course of critical illness.

Design:

Prospective observational study.

Setting:

Two intensive care units at Charité University Medicine, Berlin.

Patients:

Patients at increased risk for development of intensive care unit-acquired weakness, indicated by Sepsis-related Organ Failure Assessment scores≥ 8 on 3 of 5 consecutive days within their first week in the intensive care unit.

Interventions:

None.

Measurements and Main Results …