Abstract
We studied the right and left median nerve somatosensory evoked potential in a group of preterm neonates at birth (36 weeks) and at 37 and 38 weeks conceptional age. The latency of SEP at Erb's point did not differ from one examination to the next but the latency of cortical wave N1 in the second and third examinations was statistically shorter that of the first. The ascending slope of N1 decreased in duration like the latency of N1. We discuss our results in the light of published work and stress the value of SEP as a noninvasive method of assessing maturational deficits in the somatosensory circuits.
Sommario
Gli AA. hanno studiato il Pes del nervo mediano Dx e Sn in un gruppo di neonati pretermine di 36 settimane. L'esame era effettuato alla nascita ed alla 37a e 38a settimana di età concezionale. La latenza del Pes registrato al punto di Erb non si modificava ai vari controlli, mentre la latenza dell'onda N1 corticale diminuiva statisticamente alla 37a e 28a settimana di età rispetto al primo controllo. Il tempo di ascesa della N1 diminuiva nella durata analogamente alla latenza della N1. Gli AA. discutono i risultati osservati alla luce delle ricerche presenti in letteratura e sottolineano l'utilità del Pes quale metodica atraumatica per valutare eventuali deficit maturazionali nei circuiti somatosensoriali.
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Mazzotta, G., Gallai, V. The median nerve SEP in preterm neonates: a study of maturation. Ital J Neuro Sci 10, 441–444 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02334950
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02334950