Assessment of adductor pollicis muscle function in critically ill patients

Clinical Aspects of Respiratory Muscle Dysfunction in the Critically Ill

“…90 We have recently demonstrated that the Tw tension elicited by supramaximal magnetic stimulation of the ulnar nerve is a reproducible nonvolitional measure of AP strength that can be used in the operating theater and ICU. 91 Similarly, the technique of magnetic stimulation of the femoral nerve to assess quadriceps function 92 can be adapted for use on the ICU. 93 The relevance of peripheral muscle function to respiratory muscle function in the critically ill patient is presently undetermined, but conceptually the identification of peripheral muscle weakness could serve as a (more accessible) marker of respiratory muscle weakness.…”