Analysis of physiological [PAO[2], pulse and blood pressure] changes during modified ECT under general anaesthesia

ABSTRACT

To study the changes in physiological parameters ie PAO[2], pulse and blood pressure changes during ECT under GA. Quasi-experimental study. Department of Psychiatry and Department of Anaesthesiology, Combined Military Hospital Abbottabad from Sep 2009 to Feb 2010. A total of 50 patients with depression were given four separate ECT sessions each. All patients were anaesthetized using propofol 180-200 mg I/V and suxamethonium 50 mg ie 0.75-1 mg per kg I/V without atropine. They were stratified according to physiological changes including PAO[2], pulse and blood pressure at 1, 2 and 5 min after ECT. Oxygen saturation was measured using a pulse oximeter, which measures saturations in the range of 65-100%. Age range was 19-65 years; mean 46 years [SD +/- 13]. Mean diastolic BP before ECT was 84.72 that decreased post ECT ie 78.02 and 77.46 and 74.44 at interval of 1, 2 and 5 minute respectively. Post-ECT pulse and PAO[2] behaved similarly. Post ECT systolic BP decreased at land 5 minutes. Pulse rate decreased after ECT. ECT under propofol is one of the most effective and safe modality of treatment for psychiatric patients under the supervision of qualified psychiatrists and anaesthesiologists and it gives more stable hemodynamic changes