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Guillain-Barre is a disorder involving progressive muscle weakness or paralysis, usually after an infection – particularly a respiratory or gastrointestinal one. It is caused by inflammation of nerves and results in damage to the cover (myelin sheath) of the nerve.

This damage causes the nerves to stop working effectively by slowing the messages carried to muscle and skin through the nerve. The symptoms of the disorder usually appear after the infection has gone and progress rapidly. These symptoms may include
  • Muscle Weakness
  • Paralysis
  • Spasms
  • Numbness or Tenderness
  • Blurred Vision
Most patients require hospitalization and about 30% require ventilatory assistance. BCV can be effectively used in Guillain-Barre patients for assisting with ventilation or providing full ventilation, thus replacing intubation and conventional mechanical ventilation, whilst relieving muscle fatigue.

How Does BCV Impact These Patients?

Biphasic Cuirass Ventilation (BCV) can be used effectively to ventilate a patient with hypercapnia and acute or chronic ventilatory failure. The patient’s work of breathing, the use of accessory muscles and tachypnea will decrease when BCV is implemented. Alveolar recruitment will improve gas exchange and facilitate the management of secretions. BCV has shown to have similar gas exchange benefits as active proning when used on infants and small children. As noted in the January 2020 Respiratory Care Journal, “Negative pressure ventilation successfully supported 69% of pediatric subjects with acute respiratory failure with a complication rate of < 2%.”

Increased Lung Recruitment

  • BCV works in conjunction with your bodies physiology to naturally fill more of the lung with air

Better Patient Experience

  • By allowing patients to continue to eat and drink, as well as speak to their loved ones, BCV fosters patient independence, and active involvement with their treatment.

Increased Cardiac Output

  • A brief period of cuirass NPV increases cardiac output of patients.

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