Methohexital and succinylcholine dosing for electroconvulsive therapy (ECT): actual versus ideal.
This report compares the actual doses of methohexital and succinylcholine used for optimal anesthesia and muscle relaxation in electroconvulsive therapy with written guidelines for dosing. The initial doses of methohexital and succinylcholine in milligrams per kilogram were reviewed and compared with subsequent doses of each agent after adjustments were made for individual patient responses during treatment. The dose of methohexital required to induce general anesthesia for most patients is 1.0 mg/kg. The dose of succinylcholine required to provide adequate muscle relaxation during electroconvulsive therapy is 0.9 mg/kg, although there is considerable variability in patient response to this drug.
Department of Anesthesiology, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY 10029, USA. ethan.bryson@mountsinai.org
Ethan O
EO
Bryson
Amy S
AS
Aloysi
Dennis M
DM
Popeo
Carol A
CA
Bodian
Rosa M
RM
Pasculli
Mimi C
MC
Briggs
Charles H
CH
Kellner
D000732:Androstanols; D000771:Anesthesia, Intravenous; D000778:Anesthetics, Dissociative; D018686:Anesthetics, Intravenous / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004565:Electroconvulsive Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007649:Ketamine; D008723:Methohexital / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D009467:Neuromuscular Depolarizing Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D003473:Neuromuscular Nondepolarizing Agents; D015742:Propofol; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D000077123:Rocuronium; D013390:Succinylcholine / Q000008:administration & dosage*
D000732:Androstanols; D000778:Anesthetics, Dissociative; D018686:Anesthetics, Intravenous; D009467:Neuromuscular Depolarizing Agents; D003473:Neuromuscular Nondepolarizing Agents; D007649:Ketamine; D008723:Methohexital; D013390:Succinylcholine; D000077123:Rocuronium; D015742:Propofol