Asymmetric brain stem auditory evoked responses in infants treated with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.

ABSTRACT Brain stem auditory evoked responses (BAERs) were obtained in 25 infants who received extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) for severe respiratory failure. Tracings, were obtained by means of a Nicolet CA-2000 averager, using a conventional paradigm. The presence or absence of replicated responses at 35 and 75 dB nHL were recorded for each ear. Interpeak latencies I–III, III–V, and I–V were measured and differences between right and left ears were compared, using a matched pair t-test. Wave III–V latencies were longer on the left than right (p