SSEP
Medical abbreviation · Neurology
| Stands for | Somatosensory evoked potentials |
|---|---|
| Categories | Medical |
SSEP stands for Somatosensory evoked potentials, a neurology abbreviation.
Recordings of the nervous system's response to electrical stimulation of a peripheral nerve, typically at the wrist or ankle, tracing signals up the spinal cord to the brain. They are used to monitor the spinal cord during surgery and to predict outcome after cardiac arrest.
Example: Bilaterally absent N20 responses on SSEP at 72 hours after cardiac arrest.
Usage notes
During spine, aortic and brain surgery, a fall in amplitude or delay in latency warns the surgeon of possible injury in time to intervene. In comatose cardiac arrest survivors, bilateral absence of the cortical N20 response is one of the most reliable signs of poor neurological prognosis. Also written SEP or SSEPs.
Related abbreviations
More neurology abbreviations
- SCI – Spinal cord injury
- SDH – Subdural hematoma
- SE – Status epilepticus
- SMA – Spinal muscular atrophy
- SPMS – Secondary progressive multiple sclerosis
- SRS – Stereotactic radiosurgery
- SUDEP – Sudden unexpected death in epilepsy
- Sz – Seizure
- TBI – Traumatic brain injury
- TCD – Transcranial Doppler
- TGA – Transient global amnesia
- TIA – Transient ischemic attack
See all 131 neurology abbreviations →
This entry is for general education and is not medical advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.