[Intensive care in myasthenic and cholinergic crises].

Presents the epidemiology, possible etiology, and pathogenesis of myasthenia, methods of diagnosis of the disease, and clinical picture of critical states. Describes the present-day methods of treating myasthenic and cholinergic crises: programmed plasmapheresis combined with hormone therapy, pulsed therapy with superhigh doses of corticosteroids, and the most novel method for the treatment of autoimmune diseases, intravenous infusions of immunoglobulins. Draws attention to indications for artificial ventilation of the lungs and tracheostomy. Enumerates the drugs which are not recommended for patients with myasthenia. Emphasizes that the use of the whole complex of modern therapeutic methods for the treatment of grave myasthenia helps reduce the mortality to virtually null.