Korean J Anesthesiol.  1996 Mar;30(3):305-310. 10.4097/kjae.1996.30.3.305.

Comparision of Propofol and Thiopental for Electroconvulsive Therapy: Effects on Hemodynamic Changes and Intraocular Pressure

• Park HS
• Lee JH
• Lee KN
• Moon JI

• KMID: 2240406
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4097/kjae.1996.30.3.305

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) can produce dangerous complications, such as arrhythmias, transient hypertension, and increases in intraocular pressure. This study was designed to whether propofol, in comparision with thiopental, would attenuate these hypertensive responses and increases in intraocular pressure.
METHODS
Twenty patients were studied during courses of ECT administrations, each patient receiving propofol or thiopental on different occasions. The induction dose was 1.6 mg/kg of propofol and 3 mg/kg of thiopental sodium. Mean arterial pressure, heart rate, cardiac rhythm and intraocular pressure were checked before induction (control), after administration of succinylcholine, immediately, 5 min, and 10 min after ECT administration. Recovery time was also compared between two groups.
RESULTS
Mean arterial pressure was lower following propofol than thiopental (p<0.05) immediately after ECT. Heart rate was lower following propofol than thiopental (p<0.05) immediately, 5 min, and 10 min after ECT. Cardiac rhythm abnormalities were infrequent and not serious. Intraocular pressure was lower following propofol than thiopental (p<0.05) immediately, 5 min, and 10 min after ECT. Recovery time of propofol (6.5+/-0.8 min) was shorter than thiopental (7.5+/-0.9 min).
CONCLUSIONS
Propofol for ECT induction would seem to be an ideal drug, as it attenuates hypertensive responses and increases in intraocular pressure.

Keyword

Anesthesia; electroconvulsive therapy; Anesthetics; intravenous; propofol; thiopental; Monitoring; hemodynamics; intraocular pressure

MeSH Terms

Anesthesia
Anesthetics
Arrhythmias, Cardiac
Arterial Pressure
Electroconvulsive Therapy*
Heart Rate
Hemodynamics*
Humans
Hypertension
Intraocular Pressure*
Propofol*
Succinylcholine
Thiopental*
Anesthetics
Propofol
Succinylcholine
Thiopental