Guillain-Barre syndrome

We provide comprehensive care to patients with Guillain-Barre syndrome at any stage of the disease.:

Guillain-Barre polyradiculoneuritis is an infectious and allergic disease that affects the myelin sheath of the spinal roots, cranial nerves and peripheral nerves as a result of autoimmune aggression. The severity of the disease depends on the extent of the lesion. Damage to the myelin sheath begins in the peripheral parts of the arms and legs, and muscle weakness and loss of sensitivity increase. As the disease progresses, it affects the conductors that innervate the muscles of the body, including those responsible for respiratory movements. If the inflammatory process spreads to the cranial nerves, paralysis of the muscles of the face, larynx, pharynx, vocal cords occurs, swallowing and speech are disrupted.

Up to 80% of patients suffering from Guillain-Barre polyradiculoneuritis recover completely. Despite this, the syndrome in the acute period carries a potential threat to life. In severe cases, intensive therapy is necessary due to respiratory and swallowing disorders. Due to the patient's immobility, dangerous complications can develop, such as pneumonia, urinary tract infection, peripheral and deep vein thrombosis of the legs.

The main treatment method is immunotherapy: administration of intravenous immunoglobulins and plasmapheresis performed in a hospital or intensive care unit. Symptomatic therapy is also required, which includes anesthesia, prevention of thromboembolic events, prevention of pressure sores and infectious complications, monitoring of the patient's breathing, swallowing, urination, and hemodynamic status. If indicated, the patient is advised by a therapist, urologist, pulmonologist, cardiologist, swallowing specialist (ENT doctor), nutritionist. Patients with an unstable condition or with a rapidly progressing course of the disease are observed in intensive care. Careful differential diagnosis is also necessary to rule out other pathological conditions with similar symptoms.

In case of swallowing disorders, it is necessary to select the optimal consistency of food, speech therapy massage that stimulates the weakened muscles of the pharynx, tongue, and soft palate, as well as electrical stimulation of the muscles involved in swallowing and phonation using the VocaStim device.

Restoration of swallowing and nutrition for severe patients with Guillain-Barre syndrome is a vital element of early rehabilitation.

Peripheral paralysis that occurs with polyradiculoneuritis leads to hypotension and rapid muscle atrophy. In order to maintain maximum muscle mass and avoid the complications that physical inactivity entails, rehabilitation treatment should begin in the early days of the disease.

At the beginning of rehabilitation treatment, passive kinesiotherapy methods are used.:

Early verticalization is very important: even a completely immobilized person needs to be in an upright position for a significant part of the day, starting from 1.5-2 hours a day. We use the latest rehabilitation systems designed not only for passive verticalization of the patient, but also for an early intensive start of walking rehabilitation and functional recovery of the upper extremities. These are the robotic installations ReoAmbulator and ReoGo, which allow you to begin passive rehabilitation by performing stereotypical movements, gradually increasing the load on the arms and legs as the muscles strengthen until the patient gains complete independence.

Hydrotherapy is actively used in the motor rehabilitation of patients with Guillain-Barre syndrome. Early passive kinesiotherapy is performed in a warm water pool. An underwater walking track is installed in the small pool, which, due to the "weightlessness" created by the water, is effectively used at an early stage of walking recovery.

In the treatment and rehabilitation of patients with Guillain-Barre syndrome, we use an interdisciplinary approach that has proven effective and is successfully used in the largest rehabilitation clinics in the world. The rehabilitation program is selected individually, the primary task is to achieve the goals set by the patient, and as a result, step by step, return to a full-fledged professional and social life.