[Contribution of nutritional support to treatment neuromuscular impairmets of critically ill patients].

Neuromuscular impairments occurring in the critically ill patient have been attributed to factors such as sepsis, release of inflammatory mediators, or the use of drugs unfavorably affecting neuromuscular function. The role of metabolic and nutritional factors in the development of this condition has received little attention. Currently, the use of protocols of intensive glycemia monitoring might be of great interest in preventing neuromuscular impairments in critically ill patients. The precise mechanisms of hyperglycemia involvement in this condition are still unknown, although evidence from research data is important. Cachectic myopathy (muscle atrophy) usually is the result of the obliged changes of metabolic response to stress. The effect of nutrients intake on muscle mass gaining is very limited, so that other actions aimed at more rapidly recovering lost muscle mass should be studied. Aggressive renutrition schedules should be avoided in order to prevent re-nutrition syndrome and further deterioration of muscle function. Intake of specific substrates, such as glutamine, might have a beneficial effect on recovering neuromuscular impairments in the critically ill patient. However, there are still no data to justify its use if the only purpose is to recover neuromuscular function.