Critical-illness polyneuropathy complicating cardiac operation.

Critical-illness polyneuropathy is a complication of septic syndrome. However, this complication has been largely unrecognized in cardiac surgery units. Difficulty in weaning from the ventilator is an important early manifestation. Electromyography should be routinely performed to establish the diagnosis. Here we report a case of polyneuropathy complicating surgical repair of acute aortic dissection.