Prognostic reliability of somatosensory and visual evoked potentials of asphyxiated term infants.

The purpose of this study was to determine whether SEPs would improve the predictive power of VEPs for the prognosis of asphyxiated infants. 57 term infants had SEPs and VEPs recorded during the first three days of life, during the first week and at follow-up visits. All survivors have been followed for 18 to 24 months. 34 had a normal outcome, 12 had severe neurological sequelae and 11 died. The SEPs had both high sensitivity (96 per cent) and negative predictive power (97 per cent); normal SEPs virtually guaranteed normal outcome. The VEPs had both a specificity and positive predictive power of 100 per cent; abnormal VEPs guaranteed abnormal outcome. Both together had a higher predictive power than either alone. The combination of VEPs and SEPs yields a powerful means of prognostication for term asphyxiated infants; the results suggest that both be included in the assessment of this population.