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Updated: Aug 11, 2026
Stimulus-specific Cortical Visual Evoked Potential Morphological Patterns
Published on: May 12, 2019
Longitudinal stability of visual evoked potentials in children and adolescents with hydrocephalus
1Division of Developmental Pediatrics, Hope Children's Hospital, Oak Lawn, Illinois 60453, USA. Larry.Desch@advocatehealth.com
Insights
Visual evoked potentials (VEPs) in children with hydrocephalus showed stable within-subject changes over time. Routine VEP testing may help detect increased intracranial pressure (ICP) early in monitored patients.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Pediatric Neurology
- Ophthalmology
Background:
- Hydrocephalus is a condition characterized by excess cerebrospinal fluid in the brain.
- Increased intracranial pressure (ICP) is a serious complication of hydrocephalus.
- Early detection of ICP is crucial for effective management and preventing neurological damage.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess changes in visual evoked potentials (VEPs) within individual children with hydrocephalus over time.
- To evaluate the utility of baseline VEP testing for the early diagnosis of increased intracranial pressure (ICP) in pediatric hydrocephalus patients.
Main Methods:
- Flash-evoked VEP tests were conducted monthly for up to four months in 20 children (ages 4-18) with hydrocephalus.
- Standardized VEP testing was performed using a Cadwell Quantum 84 instrument.
- N2 response latency was analyzed for within-subject changes and compared to normal adult values.
Main Results:
- Within-subject N2 latency showed non-significant differences across multiple evaluations for most participants.
- VEP measurements were relatively stable within individuals over short periods.
- Significant differences in VEPs were observed between different participants.
Conclusions:
- Within-subject VEP measurements in children with hydrocephalus appear stable over limited durations.
- Periodic VEP testing could potentially serve as an effective monitoring tool for shunted hydrocephalus.
- Further research is needed to confirm VEPs' role in early ICP detection before overt symptoms arise.
Abstract:
There were two purposes for this study: to determine the within-subject changes of visual evoked potentials (VEPs) over time, and to evaluate the usefulness of baseline VEP testing in the early diagnosis of increased intracranial pressure (ICP). Twenty children with hydrocephalus between the ages of 4 and 18 years (18 males, 2 females) were evaluated monthly for up to four months. Flash-evoked VEP tests were done in a standardized manner using a Cadwell Quantum 84 evoked potential stimulation and recording instrument. One participant had abnormal VEPs found during a previous episode of shunt malfunction. For all of the other VEP tests, the latency of the N2 response was in the range of adult normal values. For 15 participants with multiple evaluations there were non-significant differences in N2 latency from one session to the next. This study's results provide evidence that within-subject VEP measurements in children with hydrocephalus appear to be relatively stable over limited periods. However, considerable differences were found when comparing VEPs between participants. Further research may provide additional evidence that periodic, routine VEP testing is an effective way to monitor individuals who have shunted hydrocephalus in order to detect increased ICP before the appearance of obvious symptoms.
