A vital parameter? Systematic review of spirometry in evaluation for intensive care unit admission and intubation and ventilation for Guillain-Barr′e syndrome

Background: Patients with Guillain-Barre ' syndrome (GBS) may require intensive care unit (ICU) admission for intubation and ventilation (I + V). The means to predict which patients will require I + V include spirometry measures. The aims of this study were to determine, for adult patients with GBS, how effectively different spirometry parameter thresholds predict the need for ICU admission and the requirement for I + V; and what effects these different parameter thresholds have on GBS patient outcomes.Method: A systematic review was conducted of the databases PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane library in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. The systematic review was registered prospectively on PROSPERO.Results: Initial searches returned 1011 results, of which 8 fulfilled inclusion criteria. All included studies were observational in nature. Multiple studies suggest that a vital capacity below 60% of predicted value on admission is associated with the need for eventual I + V. No included studies evaluated peak expiratory flow rate, or in-terventions with different thresholds for ICU or I + V.Conclusions: There is a relationship between vital capacity and the need for I + V. However, there is limited evidence supporting specific thresholds for I + V. In addition to evaluating these factors, future research may evaluate the effect of different patient characteristics, including clinical presentation, weight, age, and respira-tory comorbidities, on the effectiveness of spirometry parameters in the prediction of the need for I + V.

Automated summary

This study found that a vital capacity below 60% of predicted value on admission is associated with the need for intensive care unit (ICU) admission and intubation and ventilation (I + V) in patients with Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS). However, there is limited evidence to support specific thresholds for ICU and I + V. Future research may assess the impact of different patient characteristics on the effectiveness of spirometry parameters in predicting the need for ICU and I + V.