Neurophysiological diagnostics in neurocritical care

The diagnosis of central nervous functions in neurocritical care patients by utilising neurophysiological methods has attained a defined role. Both electroencephalography (EEG) and evoked cerebral potentials (EP) are implemented for the investigation of the central nervous system. Both methods can be performed as discontinuous examination methods for the diagnosis and prognosis of severe central nervous diseases but can also be used for continuous monitoring purposes in the course of neurological diseases. Both methods register different functions which are complementary in their diagnostic and prognostic implications. The prudent application of these examinations requires detailed knowledge of clinical data and the clinical course. Purposeful use of neurophysiological methods yields more valuable results than the indiscriminate application of many methods which only increases the flood of medical data, but does not lead to more accurate assessment of the clinical situation.