Multichannel derived median nerve SEP compared to EEG in patients with vascular cerebral lesions

In order to compare the sensitivity of multichannel derived median nerve SEP with EEG in vascular cerebral lesions we examined 22 normals and 23 patients. SEP components within the first 50 ms could be divided into main waveform patterns: (1) a W-shaped parietal pattern consisting of N20, P25, N35 and P45 in most cases. (2) a frontal pattern with P20 and N30 as well as possibly detectible N24, P28, P33, N40 and P50. (3) a central P22. Two younger normals showed a V-shaped parietal pattern with N20 and P35, a frontal pattern with P20 and N36, and central P22 with a remarkably long latency. All components could be analysed sufficiently by means of three representative electrode positions (stimulation right/left): P3/P4, C3/C4, and F3/F4, which reduces the expense of recording and analysing considerably. 21 patients (91.3%) showed abnormal results in SEP, whereas 14 patients (60.9%) in EEG. A three channel electrode array can increase the usefulness of SEP and detect cerebral dysfunctions in cerebral lesions in spite of normal EEG under routine examination conditions. Analysis of multichannel derived SEPs during treatment and recovery after stroke and search for the prognostic value in the acute stage of the disease should be done in future.