The comparative effects of sevoflurane and methohexital for electroconvulsive therapy

Chadi A Calarge; Raymond R Crowe; Samir D Gergis; Stephan Arndt; Robert P From

doi:10.1097/00124509-200312000-00008

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The comparative effects of sevoflurane and methohexital for electroconvulsive therapy

Journal article

Peer reviewed

The comparative effects of sevoflurane and methohexital for electroconvulsive therapy

Chadi A Calarge, Raymond R Crowe, Samir D Gergis, Stephan Arndt and Robert P From

The journal of ECT, Vol.19(4), pp.221-225

12/2003

DOI: 10.1097/00124509-200312000-00008

PMID: 14657775

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Abstract

The standard anesthetic agent for electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) has been methohexital. We compared sevoflurane, a short-acting halogenated anesthetic, to methohexital for induction in ECT. Twelve subjects received sevoflurane or methohexital on alternating treatment days. Seizure duration, time to administering ECT, emergence and recovery, as well as several hemodynamic measures were recorded. A total of 69 treatments were analyzed. When sevoflurane was used, seizure durations recorded by observation and by EEG, were shorter by 10 and 23 seconds, respectively. With sevoflurane, seizure duration remained, however, within a clinically acceptable range. Methohexital allowed faster administration of ECT and discharge from the recovery room (3.8 vs. 6.2 minutes and 40.8 vs. 47.0 minutes, respectively). No difference in the post-ECT hemodynamic changes was found between the two treatments. We conclude that, when indicated, sevoflurane could provide a suitable alternative treatment option to methohexital, but some limitations, including shortened seizure duration and potential side effects, should be kept in mind.

Methohexital - adverse effects

Anesthetics, Inhalation - pharmacology

Anesthetics, Intravenous - adverse effects

Anesthetics, Inhalation - administration & dosage

Methohexital - pharmacology

Humans

Middle Aged

Male

Methyl Ethers - pharmacology

Anesthetics, Inhalation - adverse effects

Methohexital - administration & dosage

Anesthetics, Intravenous - pharmacology

Anesthetics, Intravenous - administration & dosage

Time Factors

Methyl Ethers - adverse effects

Seizures - etiology

Adult

Female

Electroconvulsive Therapy

Hemodynamics

Methyl Ethers - administration & dosage

Details

Title: Subtitle: The comparative effects of sevoflurane and methohexital for electroconvulsive therapy
Creators: Chadi A Calarge - Department of Psychiatry, The University of Iowa Roy J and Lucille A Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, Iowa 52242, USA
Raymond R Crowe
Samir D Gergis
Stephan Arndt
Robert P From
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: The journal of ECT, Vol.19(4), pp.221-225
DOI: 10.1097/00124509-200312000-00008
PMID: 14657775
NLM abbreviation: J ECT
ISSN: 1095-0680
eISSN: 1533-4112
Publisher: United States
Language: English
Date published: 12/2003
Academic Unit: Psychiatry; Biostatistics; Nursing; Anesthesia; Injury Prevention Research Center
Record Identifier: 9984006306702771

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