Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is an acquired autoimmune disorder that causes inflammation of the peripheral nervous system. It can cause muscle weakness or paralysis. Physiotherapy management focuses on preventing complications like respiratory issues, contractures, and deep vein thrombosis during the acute phase. In subsequent phases, treatment includes stretching, strengthening, aerobic exercise, and balance training to aid recovery. Speech therapy may also be used to address swallowing difficulties that can occur with GBS.

1. 1/30/2015 1

2. GUILLAIN –BARRE SYNDROME
Presented by:
RABEIYA TAZEEM
B.S.P.T (Final yr)
Batch-2007
College of Physiotherapy-JPMC
1/30/2015 2

3. PRESENTATION FLOW
Introduction
Epidemiology
Sub-types
Pathology
Medical treatment
Rehabilitation
Prognosis
1/30/2015 3

4. Introduction
“It is an acquired ,frequently
severe ,monophasic
autoimmune illness of
Peripheral Nervous
System(PNS)”
1/30/2015 4

5. Alternative Names
•Landry-Guillain-Barre-Strohl Syndrome
•Post-Infectious Polyneuropathy
•Acute Idiopathic Polyneuropathy

6. After the advent of OPV ,today GBS is almost the only
inflammatory Polyneuropathy and most frequent cause
of acute flaccid paralysis in general medical practice
1/30/2015 6

7.  Approximately 85% patients recover
spontaneously while 10% patients need
hospitalization
Its prevalence has been reported to vary from
region to region
1/30/2015 7

8. Epidemiology
According to more recent study ,GBS occurs
throughout the world with a medium incidence of 1.3
cases per 100,000 population
Males are more commonly affected than females
Peaks in young adults and in elderly

9. 1/30/2015 9

10. Sub-types of GBS
GBS
AIDP
AMAN
AMSAN
MFS
1/30/2015 10

11. Acute Inflammatory Demyelinating
Polyneuropathy(AIDP)
Prevalent in western countries (90% of the GBS
cases)
Adults are affected more than the children
First attack appears directed against a component
of Schwann cell

12. AIDP cont’d…
Cause of flaccid paralysis & sensory disturbances is the
block of conduction ,whereas axonal connection remains
intact
Recovery is most often rapid as remyelination occurs
In the severe forms of AIDP ,when axonal damage
occurs , the rate of recovery is slower ,& the degree of
residual disability greater

13. AIDP cont’d…
Usual Electro diagnostic features;
Prolonged distal latencies
Conduction velocity slowing
Evidence of conduction block

14. Primary Acute Motor Axonal Neuropathy
(AMAN)
Prevalent in China & Mexico with seasonal
prevalence
Children and young subjects are affected more than
adults
First attack appears directed against the axolemma
& Nodes of Ranvier

15. AMAN cont’d…
Axonal damage is the prominent pathological
alteration
Recovery takes place when axon regeneration is
complete and it is rapid when lesion is localized
1/30/2015 15

16. AMAN cont’d…
Usual Electro diagnostic features;
In case of primary axonal damage there is reduced
amplitude of compound action potential (without
conduction slowing or prolongation of distal latencies)

17. Acute Motor-Sensory Axonal
Neuropathy(AMSAN)
Very rare
Closely related to AMAN
 Adults are mostly affected

18. AMSAN cont’d..
First attack is directed at motor nodes of Ranvier
,but also affects Sensory nerve and roots
Axonal damage is severe
Recovery is slow and often incomplete

19. Miller-Fisher Syndrome
Adults ,young subjects and children are affected
Involves PNS & CNS structures
Pathological features resemble that of AIDP

20. MFS cont’d…
 Characterized by rapidly evolving of Triad;
1) Variable opthalmoplegia(often withpupillary paralysis)
2) Ataxia
3) Tendon areflexia (withoutweakness)
Recovery can be rapid

21. Etiology (Predisposing or Antecedent
events in GBS )
Preceding vaccination
Bacterial infection
Viral infection
Protozoan infection
Surgeries
Blood Transfusion & Transplantation
Anesthesia & Analgesia
Preceding heat stroke
Several drugs

22. Pregnancy and GBS
Even though maternal GBS is very rare there may be
approximately 6% chances of GBS development
during pregnancy
Cause is idiopathic

23. Malignancy and GBS
GBS has also been described in association with
malignancy ,in these instances GBS may be
considered in a secondary event

24. Pathogenesis
Classic studies in man and experimental animals and
several lines of evidence support on immunological
basis for demyelination of peripheral nerves in GBS
patients

25. Pathology
DEMYELINATION is the main type of
pathophysiological lesion
Characteristics of GBS is the “Segmental
Demyelination” with mononuclear cell infiltration in
spinal roots ,proximal nerve trunks ,distal nerves and
autonomic ganglia

26. Pattern of re-myelination

27. In GBS primary demyelination of CNS is not found.
Other changes such as degeneration of spinal
posterior tract are secondary to pathology in the PNS
1/30/2015 27

28. Clinical features
Rapidly evolving areflexic ascending motor
paralysis of the extremities ,up to the
tetraparesis
Reduced or absent deep tendon reflexes
Mild sensory symptoms

29. Clinical features cont’d…
Fever
Fatigue
Pain
Bilateral facial palsy
Antecedent symptoms

30. Clinical features cont’d…
Involvement of autonomic nervous system
a. Taste loss(initial symptom)
b. Swallowing dysfunction
c. Sweat gland alterations
d. Urinary retention
e. Cardio-respiratory arrest
f. Postural hypotension

31. Differential Diagnosis
• Poliomyelitis
• Botulism
• Infantile spinal muscular atrophy
• Neurosarcoidosis
• Sub-dural spinal granuloma from Candida albicans
• Severe anaemia
• Diphtheric neuropathy
1/30/2015 31

32. Diagnosis
• Observation of the patients symptoms and
evaluation of the medical history provide the basis
for the diagnosis of GBS ,although no single
observation is suitable to make the diagnosis
1/30/2015 32

33. Diagnosis cont’d…
1. Past medical history
2. Laboratory findings
a. Lumbar puncture an elevated level of protein without an in the no.
of WBC in the CSF is he characteristic of GBS
b. Electromyogram show the loss of individual nerve impulses due to
the disease ‘s characteristic slowing of nerve responses
c. NCS these signals are characteristically slowed in GBS
1/30/2015 33

34. DISABILITY CRITERIA
In most studies, the primary outcome measure
used disability scale, where:
 0 = normal
 1 = symptoms but able to run
 2 = unable to run
 3 = unable to walk unaided
 4 = bed-bound
 5 = needing ventilation
 6 = dead
1/30/2015 34

35. Management
MANAGEMENT
MEDICAL REHABILITATION
PHYSIOTHERAPY
SPEECH
THERAPY
OCCUPATIONAL
THERAPY

36. MEDICATION
1/30/2015 36

37. Medical management
a) IVIg
a) Plasmapheresis
1/30/2015 37

38. PLASMAPHERESIS
1/30/2015 38

39. a- Pain
NSAID
Acetaminophen with Hydrocodone
b-Unpleasant sensations such as painful tingling
Tricyclic antidepressants
Anti convulsants
Corticosteroids ,which often effectively treat the
symptoms of autoimmune disorder actually worsen GBS
and should not be used
1/30/2015 39

40. 1/30/2015 40

41. 1/30/2015 41

42. “The physiotherapist was a most welcome person ,as
,despite the discomfort endured to have ‘dead’
limbs stretched and repositioned ,this left me
comfortable for several hours.”
Clark,1985
1/30/2015 42

43. Physiotherapy Management
PT
MANAGEMENT
ACUTE PHASE
SUBACUTE
REHAB PHASE
ONGOING/LONG-
TERM REHAB
PHASE III

44. ACUTE PHASE
It is a phase when patient is admitted in hospital
GOAL:
 Respiratory care
 Prevention from Decubitus Ulcer
 Prevention from Contracture formation
 Prevention from DVT
 Maintain peripheral circulation
 Assist in swallowing (feeding)

45. RESPIRATORY MANAGEMENT
If patient is on ventilator ,
•Suctioning can be done (if required)
• Huffing-coughing

46. SYMMETRY OF THE CHEST
1/30/2015 46

47. 1.Upper lobe expansion
2.Lower lobe expansion
3.Middle lobe expansion
1/30/2015 47

48. AUSCULTATION
1/30/2015 48

49. PERCUSSION
1/30/2015 49

50. Findings;
Dull & Flat solid>air
Hyper-resonant (tympanic) >air
1/30/2015 50

51. EXERCISES
Diaphragmatic breathing
Incentive spirometery
Glossophayrengeal breathing
Chest mobilization ex’s

52. Areas which are most
affected in different
positions
PREVENTION FROM
DECUBITUS ULCER
By Repositioning
By Devices (e.g. pneumatic
gloves)
Through diet
1/30/2015 52
PREVENTION FROM DECUBITUS
ULCER

53. PREVENTION FROM DVT
•Begin ambulation as soon as possible
•Anticoagulant as a prophylactic Rx
•Active pumping ex’s
•Keep lower extremities elevated

54. FROM CONTRACTURES
• Generalized ROM ex’s
• Spinal movements should be included e.g.
a. Double knee-and-hip flexion,
b. Knee rolling and
c. Neck movements with due care of tracheal
tubes
1/30/2015 54

55. Double knee-and-hip flexion
1/30/2015 55

56. Knee rolling
1/30/2015 56

57. NECK MOVEMENTS
1/30/2015 57

58. 1/30/2015 58
• Risk of hypotension is reduced by ;
Ensuring that turning is gentle
Avoiding any intervention if CVP is below
5cmH2O
Acclimatization to the upright posture with a tilt
table
Risk of bradycardia is reduced by oxygenation
before and after suction

59. ASSIST IN SWALLOWING
•By positioning
Keep head upright with slight extension (elevated-
45degree)

60. PHASE II
(when patient maintain his respiration)
1/30/2015 60

61. • Pain management-TENS
• ACBT’S
• Stretching
• Strengthening and endurance ex’s
• Paced breathing
• Aerobic ex’s
• Energy conservation
• Improve swallowing
1/30/2015 61

62. DIPHRAGMATIC
BREATHING
THORACIC
EXPANSION
(lateral)
PURSED-LIP
BREATHING
1/30/2015 62

63. TREADMILL
SWIMMING
CYCLING
WALKING
1/30/2015 63

64. Interventions for Strengthening may
include;
PROM AAROM AROM ARROM
By means of EMG biofeedback
PNF
Rhythmic Initiation
Rhythmic Stabilization
Repeated contractions
Hold Relax
1/30/2015 64

65. EMG BIOFEEDBACK
1/30/2015 65

66. position for ex’s: sitting or prone on elbow
To keep the chewed food inside the mouth patient
must be able to hold their lips closed ,can improved
by ex’s of facial muscles & tongue movements
Improve Swallowing
1/30/2015 66

67. Tongue movements
1/30/2015 67

68. As the swallowing continues ,the hyoid bone and
larynx moves upward. To stimulate the muscles that
elevate the larynx use quick ice and stretch .Give the
stretch diagonally down to the right and. then to the
left.
1/30/2015 68

69. PHASE III
(when patient have good strength of
muscles)
1/30/2015 69

70. • Strengthening
• Stretching
• Improve gripping
• Balancing (Tai chi)
• Hydrotherapy
• Gait training
• Prevention from medical complications
and sequlae
1/30/2015 70

71. 1/30/2015 71

72. 1/30/2015 72

73. 1/30/2015 73

74. T
A
I
C
H
I
1/30/2015 74

75. To improve gripping
1/30/2015 75

76. SPEECH THERAPY
Stimulation of the laryngeal muscles with quick ice
followed by stretch and resistance to the motion of
laryngeal elevation
Promote controlled exhalation during speech with
resisted breathing exercises
1/30/2015 76

77. HOME PROGRAM
Breathing ex’s
Stretching ex’s
Walking Jogging

78. 1/30/2015 78

79. SEQUELAE
•GBS may leave sequelae that are unpredictable
•Most serious residual disability was found distally in
the legs
Residual severe neurological deficits
Muscle aches and cramps

80. PROGNOSIS
 The length of time and the amount of effort required to bring
about the best possible recovery varies among individuals and
is related primarily to the severity of the symptoms.
About 30% of persons affected with GBS have some degree of
residual weakness after three years.
3 - 5% may suffer a relapse many years later.
1- 5% of cases are fatal, usually due to respiratory or cardiac
complications.
Most people, however, are able to recover completely and lead
normal lives.

81. REFRENCES
Guillain-Barre syndrome: pathological, clinical, and
therapeutical aspects
By Silvia Iannello
PNF in practice –An illustrated guide
Adler ,Beckers ,Buck
Therapeutic exercises
Kisner
http://neurologychannel.com/guillain
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/guillain-barre-syndrome/
1/30/2015 81

82. GOLDEN WORDS
“Your main occupation should be — in fairness
to yourself, in fairness to your parents, in
fairness to the state – to devote your attention
to your studies.”
(Mohammad Ali Jinnah-March 21 ,1948)
1/30/2015 82

83. 1/30/2015 83

84. 1/30/2015 84

85. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
1/30/2015 85