Medicine
Chapter 7
Section 15.2
Sensory
Evoked Potentials (SEP)
Issue Date: September 23, 1991
Copyright: CPT only © 2006 American Medical
Association (or such other date of publication of CPT).
All Rights Reserved.
Revision:
1.0 CPT PROCEDURE CODES
92585, 95925 - 95930
2.0 DESCRIPTION
SEPs are electrical waves that
are generated by the response of sensory neurons to stimuli. Changes
in the electrical waves are averaged by a computer and then interpreted
by a physician. Computer-averaged SEPs can be used to assist the
diagnosis of certain neuropathologic states or to provide information
for treatment management. Intraoperative monitoring of sensory evoked
potentials is used during orthopedic or neurologic surgical procedures
to reduce surgically induced morbidity and/or to monitor the level
of anesthesia.
3.0 POLICY
Visual, auditory, and somatosensory
evoked potential recordings that are medically necessary to diagnose,
evaluate, assess recovery of brainstem function, measure the type
and extent of hearing impairment, and to assess somatosensory function
in unconscious patients or to supplement the Electroencephalogram
(EEG) in evaluating brain death or irreversibility of coma are covered.
4.0 EXCLUSION
Intraoperative monitoring of
SEPs to define conceptional or gestational age in pre-term infants
is unproven.
5.0 EFFECTIVE DATE
May 18, 1993.
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