title: Brain-stem auditory evoked potentials and early somatosensory evoked potentials in neurointensively treated comatose children.
abstract: Forty-three comatose children treated by invasive neurointensive care were examined by brain-stem auditory evoked potentials (BAEPs) and somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs). The evoked potential (EP) results obtained were reviewed in conjunction with the clinical outcome. As a BAEP criterion, the V-I interpeak latency and, as an SEP criterion, the central conduction time (N20-N14 latency) were measured. A loss of BAEP and SEP components portended a poor prognosis. On the other hand, latency prolongations were seen in a third of patients who made a complete recovery. However, the SEP and BAEP have proved themselves as reliable methods in the judgment of the clinical state and the prognosis of intensively treated children with a hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy or a head injury. The measurement of both BAEPs and SEPs was a more reliable prognostic aid than either EP measurement alone.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001463:Barbiturates / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001926:Brain Death; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000503:physiopathology; D001933:Brain Stem / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003128:Coma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006259:Craniocerebral Trauma / Q000503:physiopathology; D005072:Evoked Potentials, Auditory / Q000187:drug effects; D005073:Evoked Potentials, Somatosensory / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007427:Intracranial Pressure; D008297:Male; D011379:Prognosis; D011930:Reaction Time
chemical_list: D001463:Barbiturates