title: Propofol and thiopental as anesthetic agents in electroconvulsive therapy: a retrospective study in major depression.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the influence of propofol and thiopental as anesthetics in electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), as regards, seizure duration, electrical charge, clinical efficacy, cardiovascular profile, and presence of adverse cognitive effects.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective design including 127 patients who received bilateral ECT for the treatment of a major depressive episode.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean seizure duration in the propofol group was significantly shorter than in the thiopental group (21.23±6.09 versus 28.24±6.6 7s, P<.001). The mean stimulus charge was 348.22 mC in the propofol group, and 238 mC in the thiopental group (P<.001). Propofol was associated with a lower increase in blood pressure. There were no differences between groups in treatment response or presence of adverse effects.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The anesthetic agent used in ECT might determine differences in parameters such as seizure duration or electrical charge. However, this does not seem to be translated into differences in clinical efficacy or the pattern of adverse effects observed.
authors.affiliation: Salut Mental Parc Taulí, Corporació Sanitària Universitària Parc Taulí, Sabadell, Institut Universitari Parc Taulí - UAB (IUFPT-UAB), España. Electronic address: emartineza@tauli.cat.
authors.forename: Erika
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Martínez-Amorós
authors.affiliation: Grupo de Neurociencias [Institut Recerca Biomèdica Bellvitge] IDIBELL, Unidad clínica e investigación de trastornos afectivos, Servicio de Psiquiatría, Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge-ICS, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, España.
authors.forename: Verònica
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Gálvez Ortiz
authors.affiliation: Salut Mental Parc Taulí, Corporació Sanitària Universitària Parc Taulí, Sabadell, Institut Universitari Parc Taulí - UAB (IUFPT-UAB), España.
authors.forename: Montserrat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Porter Moli
authors.affiliation: Salut Mental Parc Taulí, Corporació Sanitària Universitària Parc Taulí, Sabadell, Institut Universitari Parc Taulí - UAB (IUFPT-UAB), España.
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Llorens Capdevila
authors.affiliation: Grupo de Neurociencias [Institut Recerca Biomèdica Bellvitge] IDIBELL, Unidad clínica e investigación de trastornos afectivos, Servicio de Psiquiatría, Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge-ICS, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, España.
authors.forename: Ester
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cerrillo Albaigés
authors.affiliation: Salut Mental Parc Taulí, Corporació Sanitària Universitària Parc Taulí, Sabadell, Institut Universitari Parc Taulí - UAB (IUFPT-UAB), España.
authors.forename: Gemma
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Garcia-Parés
authors.affiliation: Grupo de Neurociencias [Institut Recerca Biomèdica Bellvitge] IDIBELL, Unidad clínica e investigación de trastornos afectivos, Servicio de Psiquiatría, Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge-ICS, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, España; Cibersam (CIBER en Salud Mental), Barcelona, España.
authors.forename: Narcís
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Cardoner Álvarez
authors.affiliation: Grupo de Neurociencias [Institut Recerca Biomèdica Bellvitge] IDIBELL, Unidad clínica e investigación de trastornos afectivos, Servicio de Psiquiatría, Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge-ICS, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, España; Cibersam (CIBER en Salud Mental), Barcelona, España.
authors.forename: Mikel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Urretavizcaya Sarachaga
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D018686:Anesthetics, Intravenous / Q000494:pharmacology; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000628:therapy*; D004565:Electroconvulsive Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015742:Propofol / Q000494:pharmacology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013874:Thiopental / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D018686:Anesthetics, Intravenous; D013874:Thiopental; D015742:Propofol
keywords: Electroconvulsive therapy; Major depression; Pentotal; Propofol; Terapia electroconvulsiva; Thiopental; Trastorno depresivo mayor