Recovery after electroconvulsive therapy: comparison of propofol with methohexitone anaesthesia

We have studied prospectively 39 patients receiving a course of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) for major depressive disorder; they were allocated randomly to receive either propofol or methohexitone for anaesthesia. Recovery after the third ECT treatment was assessed by finger tap and digit symbol...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:British journal of anaesthesia : BJA 1995-09, Vol.75 (3), p.297-300
Main Authors: Matters, R M, Beckett, W G, Kirkby, K C, King, T E
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Anesthesia Recovery Period
Anesthesia, General
Anesthetics, Intravenous
Anesthetics. Neuromuscular blocking agents
Biological and medical sciences
Depressive Disorder - therapy
Double-Blind Method
Electroconvulsive Therapy
Female
Humans
Male
Medical sciences
Mental Processes
Methohexital
Middle Aged
Neuropharmacology
Pharmacology. Drug treatments
Propofol
Prospective Studies
Time Factors
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Summary:We have studied prospectively 39 patients receiving a course of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) for major depressive disorder; they were allocated randomly to receive either propofol or methohexitone for anaesthesia. Recovery after the third ECT treatment was assessed by finger tap and digit symbol substitution tests at 15, 30, 45, 60 and 90 min after induction. Seizure duration (median (interquartile range)) was shorter with propofol (24 (10) s) than methohexitone (29 (17) s) (P = 0.08). There was no significant difference in psychometric recovery for drug type, duration of the seizure or initial severity of depression. These results suggest that the more rapid recovery rates noted with propofol in other procedures are not evident after electrically induced seizures.
ISSN:0007-0912
1471-6771
DOI:10.1093/bja/75.3.297