Clinical Evoked Potentials. An Illustrated Manual

Chapter 1: Basic techniques of evoked potentials recordings:

• Basic principles of EP recordings.Stimulus characteristics.Amplification.Filtering of analog signals.Analog to digital conversion.Signal enhancement - signal averaging.Limitation of signal averaging.Strategies to improve EP recordings.Final recording, display, and storage of EP.
• Nomenclature of EP components.
• Measurements: Normative data.
• Appropriate use of certain stimulating and recording parameters.Analysis time.Stimulus rate.Filters.Sampling rate.AD converter: Number of bits.Number of averages.Recording montage: Near-field and far-field potentials.Utility of EPS.
• References.
• Legends to figures.
• Table.

Chapter 2: Brainstem auditory evoked potentials:

• Overview of the technique of recording BAEPs.
• Normal BAEPs.
• Generators of BAEP components.
• BAEP evaluation and criteria for abnormalities.
• Factors affecting BAEPs.
• Clinical application of BAEP:ComaDemyelinating disorder.Posterior fossa tumor.Miscellaneous CNS disorders.
• Intraoperative monitoring of BAEP.
• Audiologic applications of BAEPs in neonates and infants.
• References.
• Legends to figures.
• Tables: 1-10.
• Writing BAEP reports.
• BAEP: Case studies (six), interpretation and discussions.

Chapter 3: Visual evoked potentials

Chapter 4: Somatosensory evoked potentials

Chapter 5: Miscellaneous evoked potentials

This book covers all aspects of evoked potentials (EPs) utilized clinically in evaluating the functional integrity of somatosensory, auditory, motor, and visual pathways in the nervous system. It explores techniques needed to correctly perform EPs, and discusses these clinical neurophysiological tests that are performed in academic institutions and large community hospitals.

Concise and comprehensive, this case-study rich text is divided into five chapters. Beginning with basic principles of evoked potential recording, the first chapter discusses signal enhancement and limitations of signal averaging. Chapter two then provides an overview of brainstem auditory EPs. Subsequent chapters then present visual EPs and somatosensory evoked potentials. Finally, the book concludes with clinical applications of transcranial magnetic stimulation, as well as a brief discussion of the techniques of transcranial electrical motor evoked potentials during intraoperative monitoring.

Clinical Evoked Potentials: An Illustrated Manual functions as an essential reference for neurologists neurosurgeons, anesthesiologists, clinical neurophysiologists, and EP technologists, who are involved with the recording and interpretation of EPs primarily for diagnostic purposes.

Omkar N. Markand
Department of Neurology
Indiana University School of Medicine
Indianapolis, IN, USA