title: [Compared effects of etomidate and propofol for anaesthesia during electroconvulsive therapy].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) requires repeated short-term anaesthesia with muscle relaxation and deep narcosis and uses several anaesthetic agents. The aim of this study was to assess the quality of the anaesthetic technique applied for ECT by comparing two products: propofol and etomidate.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a prospective randomised study that included ECT sessions. Patients were distributed into two groups. Patients of Group 1 underwent general anaesthesia with propofol (1.5mg.kg(-1)) and succinylcholine (0.75 mg.kg(-1)). Patients of Group 2 were administered etomidate (0.15 mg.kg(-1)) and succinylcholine (0.75 mg.kg(-1)). None of the patients included had any absolute or relative contraindication to ECT.
  
  
  RESULTS
  104 sessions were included, with 52 sessions per group. Group 1 was composed of 12 patients and Group 2 of 13. The demographical characteristics and indication for ECT were comparable in the two groups. There was no haemodynamic variation (notably drop in blood pressure) between the groups. The duration of seizures was significantly more prolonged in the etomidate group (28.76 +/- 3.29 seconds) than in the propofol group (23.84 +/- 7.18 seconds), with significant difference (p = 0.000018). Awakening was calm in both groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The pharmacological properties of propofol and etomidate reply precisely to the requirements of anaesthesia for ECT. Nevertheless, no drop in blood pressure was observed with the greater prolongation of seizures in the etomidate group compared with the propofol group.
authors.affiliation: Service d'anesthésie réanimation, Centre hospitalo-universitaire F. Bourguiba, avenue du 1er juin, 5000 Monastir, Tunisie. lotfi.grati@rns.tn
authors.forename: Lotfi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Grati
authors.forename: Moez
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Louzi
authors.forename: Kaisben
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nasr
authors.forename: Najib
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Zili
authors.forename: Leila
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mansalli
authors.forename: Anouar
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mechri
authors.forename: Mourad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gahbiche
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000771:Anesthesia, Intravenous / Q000379:methods*; D018686:Anesthetics, Intravenous / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000628:therapy; D001794:Blood Pressure; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D003693:Delirium / Q000628:therapy; D003863:Depression / Q000628:therapy; D004565:Electroconvulsive Therapy; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005045:Etomidate / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009467:Neuromuscular Depolarizing Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D015742:Propofol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013390:Succinylcholine / Q000494:pharmacology; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D018686:Anesthetics, Intravenous; D009467:Neuromuscular Depolarizing Agents; D013390:Succinylcholine; D015742:Propofol; D005045:Etomidate