Brainstem auditory evoked potentials in heat stroke: diagnostic and prognostic value

We studied the brainstem auditory evoked potentials [BAEPs] in seven patients with definite heat stroke at the Mekkah pilgrimage. Wave I was absent bilaterally in two and unilaterally in a further two patients. The latency of Wave III and V was unilaterally prolonged in two patients and one patient respectively. The interwave latencies [I - III and III - V] were normal in all patients. The preservation of the central pathway [I-V interwave latency] was of significant diagnostic value in assessing the viability of the brainstem especially when clinically difficult, but the BAEP's abnormalities were of no prognostic value in predicting the outcome