In spite of today's increasing body of knowledge in regard to central
nervous func- tion and/or the mode of action of centrally active
compounds, little is done to monitor those patients which are at risk of
cerebral lesions either in the OR or in the ICU. Due to the
inconsistency of reports regarding the application and the benefits
computerized EEG and/or evoked potential monitoring will bring to the
clinician, physicians still are reluctant to get involved with a
technique, which they think, will have little or no effect on the
outcome of a patients well being. However, due to the development in
computer technology, data acquisition and comprehension, it now is
possible to monitor such a viable organ as the Central Nervous System
(CNS) on a routine base without being a specialist in neurology or
electroencephalography. Thus, the book is intended to guide the
clinician to use BEG and evoked potential monitoring in a day to day
situation, without going too deep into technical details. As an
improvement of cerebral care is needed, various representative cases
underline the interpretation of EEG power spectra and evoked potential
changes in regard to the underlying clinical situation. It is hoped that
this book will serve as a guide to anyone who considers cerebral
monitoring a necessity in today's patient care. This may be the
anesthesiologist, the intensive care therapist, the nurse anesthetist as
well as the medical personnel in the lCU setting.