Question

A client with Guillain-Barré syndrome has paralysis affecting the respiratory muscles and requires mechanical ventilation. The client has questions about the paralysis. What information will the nurse tell the client about the paralysis?

a) "Paralysis is permanent, and you'll need lifelong ventilator support."
b) "The paralysis is temporary and will resolve with treatment."
c) "There's no specific treatment for this type of paralysis."
d) "The paralysis may worsen with time and become irreversible."

Answer 1

b) "The paralysis is temporary and will resolve with treatment."

The paralysis associated with Guillain-Barré syndrome is generally temporary and will resolve with appropriate treatment. It is not typically permanent, and most patients improve with time after receiving supportive care and specific therapies such as plasma exchange or intravenous immunoglobulins.

Step-by-step explanation:

The correct information to tell the client about paralysis due to Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is: "The paralysis is temporary and will resolve with treatment." Guillain-Barré syndrome is a rare autoimmune disorder where the body's immune system attacks the peripheral nervous system, often triggered by an infection. It leads to a rapid-onset muscle weakness caused by the damage to the myelin sheath of peripheral nerves. The disease progresses quickly, and in severe cases, like the one described, patients may require mechanical ventilation to assist with breathing due to respiratory muscle paralysis. However, GBS typically has a good prognosis with proper medical intervention, and most patients can expect at least a partial recovery over time.

Although the paralysis can be severe and require lengthy periods of rehabilitation, it is not usually permanent. Treatment includes supportive care, and therapies such as plasma exchange or intravenous immunoglobulins, which can help to reduce the severity and duration of the paralysis. Thus, lifelong ventilator support is typically not necessary, as the patient is likely to regain respiratory function as the disease resolves.