ABSTRACT
The goals of electrophysiological monitoring are to provide a continuous, objective, and readily interpretable measure of brain function in the comatose head-injured patient. As with any monitoring system, one would like to detect potentially serious complications and intervene before they result in permanent morbidity or mortality. Information about the localization of focal lesions would also be helpful, although it has decreased in importance since the advent of modem radiological imaging studies (i.e. computerized tomographic scanning and magnetic resonance imaging). Another potential use of electrical function monitoring is the measurement of the therapeutic efficacy of new drugs or other therapies for head injury. Ideally one would be able to determine in the acute phase whether the agent was exerting the hoped-for beneficial effects, obviating the requirement of waiting weeks or months for the standard clinical outcome measures. Eventually one might be able to titrate therapy based on real-time neurophysiologic response, similar to what is currently done in respiratory and cardiovascular intensive care.
