Recovery after ECT: comparison of propofol, etomidate and thiopental.
OBJECTIVE
To compare post anesthetic time for patient recovery after electroconvulsive therapy, as measured by the post anesthetic Recovery Score of Aldrete and Kroulik, using three different types of hypnotic drugs (propofol, etomidate and thiopental).


METHODS
Thirty patients were randomized to receive one of the three drugs (n = 10 in each group), during a course of electroconvulsive therapy treatment. Patients and raters were blinded to which drug was received. Main treatment characteristics were recorded (as total electric charge received seizure threshold, number of treatments, and the mean time for recovery) along the whole treatment.


RESULTS
Thiopental and propofol were associated with a significance increase in charge needed to induce a seizure (p < 0.0001) when compared to etomidate, as well as a significant decrease of time for recovery (p = 0.042).


CONCLUSIONS
These findings suggest that, although there seems to be no difference in the clinical outcome across these three drugs, propofol offers the best recovery profile. However, it makes a higher mean electric charge necessary.
Rosa
Moacyr A
MA
Department of Psychiatry, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil. moarosa@hcnet.usp.br
Rosa
Marina O
MO
Belegarde
Iara M T
IM
Bueno
Celso R
CR
Fregni
Felipe
F
D000328:Adult; D000762:Anesthesia Recovery Period; D000771:Anesthesia, Intravenous; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004565:Electroconvulsive Therapy; D005045:Etomidate; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D015742:Propofol; D013874:Thiopental; D013997:Time Factors
D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D013874:Thiopental; D015742:Propofol; D005045:Etomidate