Can electrophysiological assessments of brain function be useful to the intensive care physician in daily clinical practice?

Changes in electroencephalogram parameters and auditory event-related potentials, induced by interruption to propofol sedation in intensive care patients, provide a number of electrophysiological measures that can be used to assess neurological function accurately. Studies of electroencephalogram parameters suggest that power spectral estimation, as root mean square power, is more useful and precise than spectral edge frequency 95% in evaluating the functional integrity of the brain. When such parameters are used to evaluate neurological function, in particular the N100 and mismatch negativity components, a precise assessment of a patient's readiness to awaken from a pharmacologically induced coma (such as sedation) can be obtained. In terms of ease of use, however, it is more difficult to establish whether N100 or mismatch negativity is superior.