[Nitroglycerin spray in the prevention of hypertension induced by electroconvulsive therapy]

The aim of this study was to determine if 0.4 mg of nitroglycerin (NTGs) administered by sublingual route in spray before the electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), attenuated the associated hypertensive response. In 21 patients who were between 17 and 77 years old, 81 sessions of ECT were performed. NTGs was administered in 38 sessions. The rest 43 sessions was considered control group. In the control group ECT caused a significant increase of systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) (p less than 0.05) when compared with basal values. In NTGs group the increase of SBP and DBP was not significant when compared with basal values. Those changes were mainly observed in patients over 45 years old. In conclusion, 0.4 mg of NTGs significantly attenuate the hypertensive response that is caused by ECT in patients over 45 years old.