title: Pseudocholinesterase deficiency and electroconvulsive therapy.
abstract: Clinically significant pseudocholinesterase deficiency is a relatively uncommon disorder, but when present, it presents clinicians with challenges regarding medication administration. This is especially true in cases of patients receiving electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), as the presence of pseudocholinesterase deficiency limits the use of certain muscle relaxants. The authors describe a patient receiving ECT for treatment of his depression, who also possessed an unsuspected pseudocholinesterase deficiency. This was diagnosed after the patient was given succinylcholine, did not spontaneously recover motor function, and eventually required intubation. Subsequent ECT treatments were then managed with an alternative muscle relaxant which was not dependent on pseudocholinesterase for termination of action.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, USA. joswilli@wfubmc.edu
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rosenquist
authors.forename: Lorraine
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Arias
authors.forename: W Vaughn
authors.initials: WV
authors.lastname: McCall
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002091:Butyrylcholinesterase / Q000172:deficiency*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D004565:Electroconvulsive Therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008661:Metabolism, Inborn Errors / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000201:enzymology*; D009467:Neuromuscular Depolarizing Agents / Q000009:adverse effects; D020127:Recovery of Function / Q000187:drug effects; D013390:Succinylcholine / Q000009:adverse effects