What type of medical assessment is crucial in the acute phase of Guillain-Barré Syndrome?

In the acute phase of Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS), the primary concern is the rapid progression of neurological deficits that can lead to complications such as respiratory failure. Assessing neurological function is critical as it allows healthcare providers to monitor the patient's motor strength, reflexes, and sensory responses. This evaluation helps in determining the severity of the disease, guiding treatment decisions, and anticipating complications.

While respiratory function assessment is also important due to the risk of respiratory muscle weakness that GBS can cause, the neurological evaluation is fundamentally crucial because it directly reflects the severity of the syndrome and the need for interventions like monitoring and potential respiratory support. Other assessments, such as cardiac function and gastrointestinal evaluations, do not take precedence in the acute phase compared to neurological assessment, although they may still be relevant subsequently.