Erika Martínez-Amorós1, Verònica Gálvez Ortiz2, Montserrat Porter Moli3, Marta Llorens Capdevila3, Ester Cerrillo Albaigés2, Gemma Garcia-Parés3, Narcís Cardoner Álvarez4, Mikel Urretavizcaya Sarachaga4. 1. Salut Mental Parc Taulí, Corporació Sanitària Universitària Parc Taulí, Sabadell, Institut Universitari Parc Taulí - UAB (IUFPT-UAB), España. Electronic address: emartineza@tauli.cat. 2. 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. 3. Salut Mental Parc Taulí, Corporació Sanitària Universitària Parc Taulí, Sabadell, Institut Universitari Parc Taulí - UAB (IUFPT-UAB), España. 4. 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.
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.
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.