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We compared the effectiveness of three anaesthetic regimens (propofol alone, propofol with remifentanil and sevoflurane alone), with respect to seizure duration and seizure quality in patients undergoing electroconvulsive therapy. Thirty-nine patients underwent a total of 234 electroconvulsive therapy treatments in this prospective, observer blinded, crossover study. Each patient received either propofol 1 mg/kg alone (Group P), propofol 0.5 mg/kg and remifentanil 1 µg/kg (Group R), or sevoflurane alone 6% (Group S) for their initial electroconvulsive therapy session. The patients subsequently received an alternative regimen in their next session, such as from propofol 1 mg/kg alone to propofol 0.5 mg/kg and remifentanil 1 µg/kg, from propofol 0.5 mg/kg and remifentanil 1 µg/kg to sevoflurane alone 6%, or from sevoflurane alone 6% to a continuing alternation between drugs at each session, until their sixth session. Muscle paralysis was achieved with 1 mg/kg succinylcholine. Seizure duration, postictal suppression index, early and midictal amplitude were recorded. The mean motor and electroencephalogram seizure durations were significantly longer in Groups P and R compared to Group S (P <0.001). The postictal suppression index and early and midictal amplitude values were not significantly different among the groups. These findings indicate that the three anaesthetic regimens had similar effects on seizure quality parameters, although sevoflurane was associated with shorter seizure durations than propofol or propofol-remifentanil.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of a ketamine:propofol combination ('ketofol') for electroconvulsive therapy on seizure activity, haemodynamic response and recovery parameters, and to compare with these with the effects of propofol alone. Twenty-four patients underwent a total of 144 electroconvulsive therapy sessions, allocated in this prospective, double-blind, crossover study. Patients were randomly assigned to receive 1 mg/kg ketofol (0.5 mg/kg propofol plus 0.5 mg/kg ketamine) or 1 mg/kg propofol 1% for anaesthesia induction. Seizure duration and quality, haemodynamic data, recovery parameters and side-effects were recorded and analysed between groups. Both motor and electroencephalography seizure durations in the ketofol group (29 ± 17 and 41 ± 17 seconds, respectively) were similar to that in the propofol group (28 ± 13 and 38 ± 16 seconds, respectively). Postictal suppression index was higher in the ketofol group (89.63 ± 7.88) than in the propofol group (79.74 ± 14.6) (P <0.05). In the ketofol group, heart rate after the seizure ended and mean arterial pressures, recorded at 0 and 5 minutes after the seizure ended, were higher than in the propofol group. Time to obeying commands was longer in the ketofol group (P <0.05). There were no untoward psychological reactions following ketofol. Although no superiority to propofol in terms of seizure duration, haemodynamic or recovery parameters was found, the ketofol mixture selected in our study provided better seizure quality than propofol. We conclude that ketofol can be an alternative strategy to enhance the seizure quality and clinical efficiency of electroconvulsive therapy.

Background: This study was designed to evaluate the effect of dexmedetomidine on the acute hyperdynamic response, duration of seizure activity and recovery times in patients undergoing electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)., Methods: Fourteen patients underwent a total of 84 ECT sessions as a crossover design. Patients were randomly allocated to receive either dexmedetomidine (1 mug/kg IV over a period of 10 min) or saline (control). Anaesthesia was induced with propofol 1 mg/kg, and then succinylcholine 0.5 mg/kg IV was administered. Arterial blood pressure and heart rate (HR) were recorded during the study period., Results: HR in the dexmedetomidine group was lower than that in the control group at 5 and 10 min after the start of study drug infusion, and at 1, 3 and 10 min after the seizure ended (P<0.05). Peak HR was lower in the dexmedetomidine group compared with that in the control group (P<0.05). The mean arterial pressure (MAP) values in the dexmedetomidine group were lower at 0, 1, 3 and 10 min after the seizure ended compared with the control group (P<0.05). Both motor and electroencephalography (EEG) seizure duration in the control group (35.65 +/- 14.89 and 49.07 +/- 9.94 s, respectively) were similar to that in the dexmedetomidine group (33.30 +/- 12.01 and 45.15 +/- 17.79 s, respectively) (P>0.05). Time to spontaneous breathing, eye opening and obeying commands were not different between the groups., Conclusion: A dexmedetomidine dose of 1 mug/kg IV administered over 10 min before the induction of anaesthesia with propofol may be useful in preventing the acute hyperdynamic responses to ECT without altering the duration of seizure activity and recovery time.

The article discusses a study of the administration of Ketofol, a mixture of ketamine and propofol, in patients referred to electroconvulsive therapy. The researchers analyzed the seizure activity, hemodynamic response and recovery parameters in the 25 patients included in the study. They found similar motor and electroencephalography seizure durations in both the ketofol and propofol groups.

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