Prognostic value of early somatosensory evoked potentials for adverse outcome in full-term infants with birth asphyxia

SEPs were examined during the first weeks of life in 34 infants with mild to severe birth asphyxia, in an attempt to provide a more accurate prediction of neurodevelopmental outcome. Normal, delayed and absent responses were compared with the infant's acute clinical condition, imaging findings using different imaging techniques and neurodevelopmental outcome. All infants with normal SEPs were normal at follow-up. All but two of the infants with a delayed or absent response died or suffered from severe neurological sequelae. A delayed or absent Nl latency carried a risk for death or severe handicap of 71 and 100%, respectively, compared with 25 and 89% for moderate or severe encephalopathy on neurological assessment, and 29 and 85% for moderate or severe changes seen using different imaging techniques. SEPs may provide useful additional information when assessing the infant with birth asphyxia.