Premium
Seizure duration in unilateral electroconvulsive therapy A comparison of the anaesthetic agents etomidate and Althesin with methohexitone
Author(s) -
Gran L.,
Bergsholm P.,
Bleie H.
Publication year - 1984
Publication title -
acta psychiatrica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.849
H-Index - 146
eISSN - 1600-0447
pISSN - 0001-690X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0447.1984.tb02522.x
Subject(s) - etomidate , anesthesia , electroconvulsive therapy , methohexital , medicine , seizure threshold , diazepam , anticonvulsant , epilepsy , propofol , electroconvulsive shock , psychiatry
– Seizure duration in unilateral electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) was recorded by means of EEG in an intraindividual comparison of etomidate (dissolved in a soy‐bean oil emulsion) 0.3 mg/kg and Althesin (alphaxalone 9 mg and alphadolone 3 mg/ml) 0.6 mg/kg with methohexitone 1 mg/kg body weight. The patients were intubated and alveolar CO 2 ‐ and O 2 ‐concentrations kept constant at 3% (3 kPa) and 92% (92 kPa) respectively. Seizure duration was the same when either etomidate or methohexitone were used, whereas Althesin significantly shortened seizure duration in comparison with methohexitone. Local pain on injection and a subsequent superficial thrombophlebitis occurred frequently with methohexitone. This did not occur with etomidate or Althesin.