Comparison of thiopentone sodium and propofol as anesthetic agents for modified electroconvulsive therapy

Abstract

Electroconvulsive therapy is a simple procedure, performed on highly diverse patient population with severe, drug resistant depression and other psychiatric disorders. Due to the occurrence of physical and psychological trauma caused to the conscious patient, has led to the concept of modified electroconvulsuve therapy. Ideal anaesthetic used for electroconvulsive therapy should have characteristics that include rapid induction, shorter duration of action, minimal side effects, rapid recovery and no interference with electroconvulsive therapy efficiency. The present study has compared propofol, which has been increasingly used recently with thiopentone, the drug most widely acceptable even today as anaesthetic agents for electroconvulsive therapy. This study was performed to assess the comparative effects of propofol and thiopentone sodium on recovery profile, hemodynamic stability and seizure duration during and after electroconvulsive therapy.