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Brainstem Auditory Evoked Potentials

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Clinical Evoked Potentials

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Abstract

This chapter discusses brainstem auditory evoked potentials (BAEPs), its recording technique, and standard recording protocol. Major BAEP components are described in the Cz to the ipsilateral and contralateral ear derivations, emphasizing the morphological differences seen within these two derivations and the reason for these differences. Generator sources of BAEP components in the brainstem are described as revealed by direct recording from human and animal brainstems as well as clinical studies. This is followed by methods of BAEP evaluation, criteria of abnormalities, their clinical significance, and various subject-related and technical factors, which influence these responses. BAEPs provide a sensitive electrophysiological tool to evaluate integrity of brainstem in patients with coma, demyelinating disorders, posterior fossa tumors, hearing problems in infants, and during intracranial surgeries in the region of posterior fossa. These applications are fully discussed. More than 35 figures and 10 tables illustrate various BAEP characteristics and abnormalities. Included at the end of the chapter are six clinical cases discussed under the following headings, reason for study, technical summary, findings, interpretation, follow-up, and discussion, to provide a recommended method of writing BAEP reports for the referring physician.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Professor Emeritus of Neurology, Department of Neurology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA

    Omkar N. Markand MD, FRCP(C), FACP

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  1. Omkar N. Markand MD, FRCP(C), FACP
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Markand, O.N. (2020). Brainstem Auditory Evoked Potentials. In: Clinical Evoked Potentials. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-36955-2_2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-36955-2_2

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-36954-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-36955-2

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