Journal of AdvancedMedical and Dental Sciences Research

Background: Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) requires sedation with a short-term anaesthetic that interferes as little as possible in the convulsive threshold and in the duration and quality of the convulsion. The present study was conducted to assess Propofol and thiopental as anaesthetic agents in electro convulsive therapy. Materials & Methods: 74 patients of major depressivedisorders (MDD) of both genderswere divided into 2 groups of 37 each. In group I, anaesthesia included thiopental (1.5-2.5 mg/kg) and group II included propofol(0.75-1.5 mg/kg) and succinylcholine (0.5 mg/kg). Thepatients were preoxygenated and ventilated manually. Parameters such as major depressive disorder, severity of the event etc. was recorded. Results: Group I had 20 males and 17 females and group II had 18 males and 19 females.Development of the disorder was MDD single episodein 3 and 5 in group I and group II and MDD recurrent in 34 and 32 in group Iand group II respectively. Severity of the event was moderate seen in 1and 2, serious without psychotic symptomsin 17 and 15 and serious with psychotic symptoms in 19 and 20 in group I and group II respectively. Drug treatment given was antidepressants in 35 and 37, antipsychotic in 20 and 32, benzodiazepines in 10 and 4 and mood stabilizers in 32and 21 in group I and group II respectively. ECT parameters showed mean visual duration was 18.4 and 15.2, accumulated value was 204.1 and 156.8, EEG mean visual duration was 28.4 and 21.3 and accumulated value was 316.2and 214.8 in group I and II respectively. Dose of stimulation (mC) mean visual duration was 234.2 and 342.1 and accumulated value was 2453.2 and 3012.4, reduction of basal HDRS21 was 22.1and 22.5, reduction of basal GAF was 35.4 and 31.2 and days of hospital stay was 36.2and 41.2 in group I and II respectively. The difference was significant (P< 0.05). Conclusion: Both Propofol and thiopental as anaesthetic agents in electro convulsive therapy were found to be equally effective.