Neurophysiological Monitoring in the Intensive Care Unit

Electroencephalography and evoked potentials are ob jective and reproducible studies used in the intensive care unit as an extension of a neurological examination. The techniques can be performed serially at the bedside and are used diagnostically in the evaluation of patients with altered states of consciousness, seizure disorders, and threatened cerebral perfusion. EEG is used in the determination of brain death. Auditory evoked poten tials have been demonstrated to be an effective method of delineating a peripheral auditory dysfunction in neo natal patients. Potential uses of electroencephalography and evoked potentials include predicting outcome and monitoring a patient's response to therapeutic interven tion. Importantly, these studies may provide the only assessment of central nervous system function when the neurological examination is precluded (e.g., barbitu rate-induced coma).