[Sleep disorders in the newborn]. / Enfermedades del sueño en el recién nacido.

Sleep disorders are classified in dyssomnias, parasomnias, sleep disorder associated with medical and psychiatric disorders and proposed sleep disorders. Only the parasomnias have been studied as such in the newborn period. The parasomnias that occur in this age group are infant sleep apnea, congenital central hypoventilation syndrome, sudden infant death syndrome, and benign neonatal sleep myoclonus. Infant sleep apnea includes three entities: (1) apnea of prematurity, (2), apparent life threatening episodes with apnea and (3) obstructive sleep apnea. Congenital central hypoventilation syndrome can be associated with other autonomic system illness, such as Hirschsprung disease (Haddad syndrome) and neuroblastoma. The implementation of the supine sleep position and smoking free homes has diminished the frequency of sudden infant death syndrome. Benign neonatal sleep myoclonus should be considered in all newborns with a normal exam between the episodes when they always occur during sleep. This entity may be mistaken for status epilepticus, because it is associated with increases in heart rate. Benzodiazepines prolongs the duration of the episodes.

[Medical and surgical indications of evoked potentials]. / Indicaciones médicas y quirúrgicas de los potenciales evocados.

Evoked potentials (EP) are more sensitive than specific, safe, objective and reproducible neurophysiologic techniques to assess integrity of peripheral and central sensory and motor pathways. The integrity of pathways are determined by measurement the latency of the recorded and digitally averaged electrical events elicited after adequate stimulation. EP are medically and surgically recommended in conditions in which the diagnoses, determination of neurological outcome in comatose and under anesthesia patients, and determination of the course and evaluation of treatment are uncertain with neurologic examination and other neurodiagnostic studies.