Classical applications of sensory evoked potentials (EPs) during the intraoperative period and/or intensive care unit stay

Somatosensory EPs

1) Invasive spine (arthrodesis) and spinal cord surgery for detection of either medullary or radicular syndrome (combined with motor EPs and/or evoked EMG)

2) Normothermic thoracic and thoracoabdominal aortic surgery for detection of cord ischaemia (compromised vascular supply— radicular anterior Adamkiewicz artery—combined with motor EPs)

3) Deep or intermediate hypothermia for neurosurgery (cerebral vascular bypass), cardiac, or major vascular surgery (combined with motor EPs)

4) Carotid endarterectomy (alternative to mapped EEG and QEEG, because less pharmacologically depressible)

5) Surgical peripheral nerve release (surgery guidance—possibly combined with motor EPs)

6) Post-anoxic comatose patients (prognosis dimension—outcome prediction)

7) Hypothermic comatose patients (prognosis dimension—outcome prediction)

8) Spinal cord post-trauma status (combined with motor EPs and/or evoked EMG)

Auditory EPs (short or midbrain latencies)

1) Intra and extracranial surgery of the auditory and/or the facial nerves (combined with facial evoked EMG—specific facial nerve monitoring)

2) Midbrain and/or spinal cord post-trauma status (combined with motor EPs and/or evoked EMG)

Auditory EPs (middle or early cortical latencies)

1) Post-anoxic comatose patients (prognosis dimension—outcome prediction)

2) Hypothermic comatose patients (prognosis dimension—outcome prediction)

Auditory EPs (long or late cortical latencies)

1) Postoperative, post-lesion, or post-trauma cognitive dysfunction 

Visual EPs (cortical latencies)

1) Optic nerve, hypothalamic, pituitary gland, and diaphragma sellae surgery

2) Post-anoxic comatose patients (prognosis dimension—outcome prediction)

3) Hypothermic comatose patients (prognosis dimension—outcome prediction)