Evoked potentials are potentials that are derived from the peripheral or central nervous system. They are time locked with an external stimulus and can be influenced by subjective intentions. Evoked potentials have become increasingly popular for clinical diagnosis over the last few years. Evoked potentials from the visual system are used by ophthalmologists in order to localize the abnormalities in the visual pathway. The otologists are mainly involved in brainstem auditory evoked potentials, while the pediatricians, neonatologists, neurologists and clinical neurophysiologists make use of multimodal stimulation. The psychiatrists and psychologists, generally, examine the slow potentials such as P300 and CNV. Anesthesiologists use short latency somatosensory and visual evoked potentials in order to monitor the effectiveness of the anesthesia. Pharmaco evoked potentials are very promising measures for the quan tification of the effectiveness of drug action on the cerebral cortex. Urologists are more and more involved in pudendal somatosensory evoked potentials and in the intensive care unit evoked potentials are used in order to monitor the functional state of the central nervous system of the patient. This overwhelming number of examinations and exam ina tors clearly demonstrates the need for guidelines and standardization of the methods used. The evoked potential metholody is restricted by the relative poor signal to noise ratio. In many diseases this signal to noise ratio decrease rapidly during the progression of the illness. Optimal technical equipment and methodology are therefore essential.

Evoked potentials have been used for decades to assess neurologic function in outpatient studies and are now routinely used in the operating room during surgery. Illustrated Manual of Clinical Evoked Potentials is a modern, practical guide to performing these studies and interpreting the results. The book is uniquely organized as a singular resource that provides the necessary background for understanding and conducting evoked potential studies. It functions as a multi-purpose text, atlas, and reading session, with numerous examples of studies and findings and discussion of key takeaways. Divided into five chapters, the book opens with an introduction to the basics of data acquisition and interpretation that lays the foundation for the modality-specific chapters that follow. The next group of chapters are in-depth reviews of visual, brainstem auditory, and somatosensory evoked potentials. Each of these chapters lays out the specifics of the modality and study protocol with examples to show how things should—and should not—be done. Sample studies with discussions about how to interpret them highlight a particular aspect of normalcy or pathology. Imaging correlates are provided to emphasize salient points and offer perspective. The final chapter is an overview of the use of evoked potentials during surgery with imaging and case discussions to introduce the reader to this very important application. Key Features Detailed review of methodology of evoked potential studies Many examples of actual patient studies with imaging correlates Interpretation of each evoked potential study presented in detail “Reading session”-like discussion of each example Special chapter on evoked potentials in the operating room

This text details how to set up and run a clinical Evoked Potential (EP) service. In this revised edition, experts in each area discuss their sections, provide practical guidance and review recent developments. New topics covered include paediatrics, surgical monitoring and cognitive EPs.

Brain dysfunction is a major clinical problem in intensive care, with potentially debilitating long-term consequences for post-ICU patients of any age. The resulting extended length of stay in the ICU and post-discharge cognitive dysfunction are now recognized as major healthcare burdens. This comprehensive clinical text provides intensivists and neurologists with a practical review of the pathophysiology of brain dysfunction and a thorough account of the diagnostic and therapeutic options available. Initial sections review the epidemiology, outcomes, relevant behavioral neurology and biological mechanisms of brain dysfunction. Subsequent sections evaluate the available diagnostic options and preventative and therapeutic interventions, with a final section on clinical encephalopathy syndromes encountered in the ICU. Each chapter is rich in illustrations, with an executive summary and a helpful glossary of terms. Brain Disorders in Critical Illness is a seminal reference for all physicians and neuroscientists interested in the care and outcome of severely ill patients.