Hospital acquired pneumonia is a common and severe complication of Guillain Barré Syndrome. Several factors have been recognized as predictors of respiratory failure in adults with Guillain Barré Syndrome. They include a time from disease onset and patient admission of less seven days, inability to lift head, impaired swallowing and a forced vital capacity of less than 60% of predictive value. We reasonned that early mechanical ventilation may prevent aspiration which is likely the main cause of pneumonia in these patients.
The purpose of this study is to determine whether early mechanical ventilation can prevent hospital acquired pneumonia in adults with Guillain Barré Syndrome.