title: Seizure Duration and Hemodynamic State During Electroconvulsive Therapy: Sodium Thiopental Versus Propofol.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  General anesthesia is required for Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) and it is usually provided by a hypnotic agent. The seizure duration is important for the treatment, and it is usually accompanied by severe hemodynamic changes. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of sodium thiopental versus Propofol on seizure duration and hemodynamic variables during ECT.
  
  
  METHODS
  A number of 100 patient-sessions of ECT were included in this randomized clinical trial. The initial hemodynamic state of each patient was recorded. Anesthesia was induced by Sodium thiopental in the 1st group and with Propofol in 2nd group. All the patients received the muscle relaxant succinylcholine. The hemodynamic variables after seizure and seizure duration were recorded. The data were analyzed through SPSS 20 and independent t-test. P<0.05 was considered significant.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean duration of seizure in the sodium thiopental group was significantly longer than the Propofol group (40.3±16.6 sec versus 32±11.3 sec) (P=0.001). There was no statistically significant difference between the mean energy level applied in the two groups (20.5±3.81 joules in the sodium thiopental versus 20.2±3.49 joules in the Propofol group). The mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure at all times after seizure and mean heart rate at 3 and 5 minutes after seizure were significantly lower in Propofol than sodium thiopental groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Propofol provides a more stable hemodynamic state for the ECT procedures, and its use is highly preferred over sodium thiopental in patients with cardiovascular disease.
authors.forename: Hashem
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Jarineshin
authors.forename: Saeed
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kashani
authors.affiliation: Anesthesiology, Critical Care and Pain Management Research Center, Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, Bandar Abbas, Iran. fereydoonfekrat@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Fereydoon
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fekrat
authors.forename: Majid
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vatankhah
authors.forename: Javad
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Golmirzaei
authors.forename: Esmaeel
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Alimolaee
authors.forename: Hamid
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zafarpour
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004565:Electroconvulsive Therapy; D005260:Female; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007492:Iran / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D015742:Propofol / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012640:Seizures / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013874:Thiopental / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D013874:Thiopental; D015742:Propofol