[Prognostic value of multimodal evoked potentials in neurologic intensive care patients]

In neurological patients with severe cerebral disease requiring intensive care unit treatment serial examinations of brainstem acoustic evoked responses and median nerve evoked cortical somatosensory potentials regularly allow the detection of typical constellations which can be attributed to primary supra- or infratentorial disease. These findings are of diagnostical use but also allow prognostical statements. Here, somatosensory evoked potentials are of great value. In a series of 255 patients, all 57 showing bilaterally abolished somatosensory potentials did not recover. Therefore, the demonstration of bilaterally absent somatosensory potentials in supratentorial cerebral disease invariably designates poor prognosis.