ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the effects of ketamine and propofol on cardiovascular system and cognitive function in the patients with depression during the modified electroconvulsive therapy (MECT). Methods A total of 60 patients with depression treated by MECT were randomly divided into 2 groups. Induced anesthesia with ketamine and propofol were performed respectively during MECT. The course of treatment was 8 times. The mean arterial pressure(MAP)was recorded before therapy and at 5 min after MECT.Depression and the cognitive function were evaluated by using the Hamilton Depression Scale(HAMD)and the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test(WCST)before treatment and 1 day after treatment. Results There was no significant difference in MAP between the two groups after MECT(P > 0.05). The HAMD scores of the two groups were lower than those before treatment(P 0.05). But in completing classification of WCST ,the ketamine group was better than the propofol group(P<0.05). Conclusion Propofol has no obvious influence on the cognition function and little influence on MAP,so it could be the first choice of anaesthetic for the induction of MECT.