Rosengren SM, Colebatch JG, Young AS, Govender S, Welgampola MS. Vestibular evoked myogenic potentials in practice: Methods, pitfalls and clinical applications.
Clin Neurophysiol Pract 2019;
4:47-68. [PMID:
30949613 PMCID:
PMC6430081 DOI:
10.1016/j.cnp.2019.01.005]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 194] [Impact Index Per Article: 32.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2018] [Revised: 01/15/2019] [Accepted: 01/19/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Vestibular evoked myogenic potentials (VEMPs) are used to test the otolith organs in patients with vertigo and imbalance.
This review discusses the optimal procedures for recording VEMPs and the pitfalls commonly encountered by clinicians.
Better understanding of VEMP methodology should lead to improved quality of recordings.
Vestibular evoked myogenic potentials (VEMPs) are a useful and increasingly popular component of the neuro-otology test battery. These otolith-dependent reflexes are produced by stimulating the ears with air-conducted sound or skull vibration and recorded from surface electrodes placed over the neck (cervical VEMPs) and eye muscles (ocular VEMPs). VEMP abnormalities have been reported in various diseases of the ear and vestibular system, and VEMPs have a clear role in the diagnosis of superior semicircular canal dehiscence. However there is significant variability in the methods used to stimulate the otoliths and record the reflexes. This review discusses VEMP methodology and provides a detailed theoretical background for the techniques that are typically used. The review also outlines the common pitfalls in VEMP recording and the clinical applications of VEMPs.
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