Post-electroconvulsive therapy agitation with etomidate

Agitation immediately after electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is a common clinical problem. This can vary in severity from mild to severe and may necessitate the administration of sedating medications and at times physical restraint. There are many factors involved in the etiology of post-ECT agitation. One factor, the choice of anesthetic agent, is described in this case. Here, etomidate was associated with significant post-ECT agitation after several uneventful treatments with methohexital. The patient had no further episodes of post-ECT agitation after being switched back to methohexital.