title: Seizure duration in unilateral electroconvulsive therapy. A comparison of the anaesthetic agents etomidate and Althesin with methohexitone.
abstract: Seizure duration in unilateral electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) was recorded by means of EEG in an intraindividual comparison of etomidate (dissolved in a soy-bean oil emulsion) 0.3 mg/kg and Althesin (alphaxalone 9 mg and alphadolone 3 mg/ml) 0.6 mg/kg with methohexitone 1 mg/kg body weight. The patients were intubated and alveolar CO2- and O2-concentrations kept constant at 3% (3 kPa) and 92% (92 kPa) respectively. Seizure duration was the same when either etomidate or methohexitone were used, whereas Althesin significantly shortened seizure duration in comparison with methohexitone. Local pain on injection and a subsequent superficial thrombophlebitis occurred frequently with methohexitone. This did not occur with etomidate or Althesin.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000530:Alfaxalone Alfadolone Mixture / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000628:therapy; D004565:Electroconvulsive Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005045:Etomidate / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality; D006801:Humans; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D008723:Methohexital / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000139:chemically induced; D013924:Thrombophlebitis / Q000139:chemically induced; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D007093:Imidazoles; D000530:Alfaxalone Alfadolone Mixture; D008723:Methohexital; D005045:Etomidate