Propofol reduces seizure duration in patients having anaesthesia for electroconvulsive therapy.
Twenty-five patients received either methohexitone 1.0 mg kg-1 or propofol 1.3 mg kg-1 to induce anaesthesia during two separate electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) treatments. A forearm was isolated before administration of suxamethonium 0.5 mg kg-1, so that unmodified seizure duration could be measured. Bifrontotemporal electrodes were applied to administer a standard 3-s ECT shock. Median (quartile deviation) duration of seizure was reduced significantly after propofol (19.0 (9.0) s), compared with after methohexitone (33.0 (7.8) s). Therefore propofol may not be an appropriate anaesthetic for ECT because of its adverse effect on seizure duration.
Simpson
K H
KH
University Department of Anaesthesia, St James's University Hospital, Leeds, Yorks.
Halsall
P J
PJ
Carr
C M
CM
Stewart
K G
KG
D000771:Anesthesia, Intravenous; D000777:Anesthetics / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004565:Electroconvulsive Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008723:Methohexital; D008875:Middle Aged; D010636:Phenols / Q000009:adverse effects*; D015742:Propofol; D012640:Seizures / Q000517:prevention & control; D013997:Time Factors
D000777:Anesthetics; D010636:Phenols; D008723:Methohexital; D015742:Propofol