Usefulness of a clinical diagnosis of ICU-acquired paresis to predict outcome in patients with SIRS and acute respiratory failure.

Purpose: Neuromuscular abnormalities are common in ICU patients. We aimed to assess the incidence of clinically diagnosed ICU-acquired paresis (ICUAP) and its impact on outcome.

Methods: Forty-two patients with systemic inflammatory response syndrome on mechanical ventilation for >or=48 h were prospectively studied.