ISSN:
1432-1459
Keywords:
Somatosensory evoked potentials
;
Brain death
;
Head injury
;
Coma
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Medicine
Notes:
Summary Simultaneous recording of somatosensory evoked potentials to median nerve stimulation above the upper and lower neck in brain-dead patients revealed that all cervical responses were preserved in 10%, whereas a marked reduction in amplitude or even loss of N 13b at the level of the C2 spinous process was observed in 90%. Of the patients, 55% revealed an additional loss of N 13a, recorded at the level of the C7 spinous process; in 15% all cortical and spinal evoked potentials were missing, but Erb's point waves were still normal. These results suggest two different origins of the main negative waves (N 13a and N 13b), recorded above the upper and lower cervical spinal cord. N 13a (C7) is supposed to arise in the dorsal horn at the C6/7 level, N 13b (C2) in the cervicomedullary junction.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00618252
Permalink
