[Acute and chronic respiratory insufficiency in diseases of the nervous system].

From the practical experience gained in a neurological intensive-care ward criteria and parameters which require specific consideration in long-term artificial respiration are reported. These empiric data were gathered in the reanimation of 490 patients suffering from different illnesses of the nervous system. Treatment was most efficient in the cases of acute poliomyelitis, polyradiculoneuritis, botulism and myasthenia gravis. A detailed account is given of the metabolic changes observed in the application of artificial respiration. The facts reported indicate that during long-term artificial respiration the blood gas metabolism changes and the vital regulatory centres adapt to the condition.