Intensive respiratory care in patients with myasthenic crisis.

Six patients received mechanical ventilation for 8 episodes of myasthenic crisis in a two year period. Median duration of ventilation was 8 days. Only one patient required ventilation for more than three weeks and underwent tracheostomy. Atelectasis and pneumonia were the common ventilator associated complications observed, and these responded to therapy. Two patients underwent thymectomy after initial stabilization and while being ventilated. All patients recovered completely.