Abstract:Objective To study the risk factors associated with the need for mechanical ventilation in children with Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS). Methods The medical data of 107 children with GBS were retrospectively reviewed. According to whether mechanical ventilation was required, the children were divided into a mechanical ventilation group with 16 children and a non-mechanical ventilation group with 91 children. The risk factors associated with the need for mechanical ventilation in children with GBS were identified by a multivariate logistic regression analysis. Results Among the 107 children, 16 (15.0%) required mechanical ventilation. Compared with the non-mechanical ventilation group, the mechanical ventilation group had a significantly higher proportion of children with facial and/or bulbar muscle weakness, a significantly shorter duration from the onset to the peak of the disease, and a significantly higher Hughes Functional Grading Scale score at the first visit (P<0.05). Facial and/or bulbar muscle weakness and short duration from the onset to the peak of the disease were risk factors associated with the need for mechanical ventilation in children with GBS (OR=5.053 and 1.239 respectively, P<0.05). Conclusions Facial and/or bulbar muscle weakness and short duration from the onset to the peak of the disease may increase the risk of mechanical ventilation in children with GBS. Citation:
