Muscle Force Assessment in the Intensive Care Unit and in Primary Myopathies

A force measuring system similar to one employed in previous studies will be redesigned with a new stimulator system and leg support system. This new, small, light and portable measurement system accurately measures patients' muscle forces. The system produces repeatable results. Over a long-time time period, this system will be applied to ICU patients and patients with primary myopathies, e.g. muscular dystrophy Duchenne or myotonias, and their ankle dorsiflexor isometric torques measured after electrical peroneal nerve stimulation. Torques will be amplified and converted into electrical signals by a Whetstone bridge, and data will be stored on a computer (LabView system). Stimulated torque responses will be obtained regularly, and subsequently the individualized curves will be determined. Electromyogram will be performed at each recording session. For all subjects possible, the investigators will continue to monitor their stimulated muscle forces during their recovery periods or disease progression. Type of data: Variables of isometric skeletal muscle contractions, such as peak torques, contraction and relaxation times and torque latencies. To find an assumed difference of 50% in strength, at least 30 individuals (power 0.9) are required.

Values will be compared to patients voluntary forces, determined by Muscle Research Council (MRC) and Manual Muscle Test (MMT) scores.

Additionally, skin resistances of edema patients will by determined employing a twitch stimulator and an oscilloscope. We are interested whether edema (fluid) changes tissue resistance. Data are required to redesign the new stimulation unit of the muscle force measuring system.

Inclusion criteria

• Any patient which fulfills the criteria for sepsis / septic shock according the definition of the American College of Chest Physicians/Society of Critical Care Medicine Consensus Conference
• Patients who will be sedated, mechanically ventilated, and immobilized
• Patients will be intubated the day of admission to ICU and started mechanically ventilated on a positive pressure ventilation modus
• The severity of each patient¢s illness will be assessed using the Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II score with required entry scores of a minimum of 15-20 Points
• Patients suffering from a primary myopathy, e.g., Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy or subclinic myopathy, e.g. Malignant Hyperthermia.

Exclusion criteria

• Patients with neuropathies, consuming diseases in an advanced state (metastatic cancer) and severe infectious diseases (e.g. AIDS, Hepatitis), as well as patients with injured legs and/or patients requiring neuromuscular blocking drugs.
• Patients under the age of 18 yr.