attenuation of the ECT seizures by propofol, could it be an advantage in electro-convulsive therapy

This study was carried out on 80 patients [23 females and 57 males] subjected to 430 ECT applications for treatment of their psychiatric disorders. Patients were divided into 3 groups. Groups I and II received thiopentone and propofol, respectively, for their ECT applications. In group III, whenever there was a violent response and /or prolonged duration in the 1st session [thiopentone session], the patient was shifted to propofol in the following sessions. The duration of seizures was measured in seconds and the response was judged clinically in pulses ranging from 0 to 4. It was found that propofol inhibits ECT seizures both in intensity and duration. In conclusion, propofol as an intravenous anesthetic agent in ECT applications should be avoided in routine use, but it must be kept in mind that it plays a definite role in those cases where the response to ECT is exaggerating running the possible complication of this type of therapy