A comparison of propofol and methohexitone as anaesthetic agents for electroconvulsive therapy

This study was designed to compare the effects of propofol and methohexitone upon the haemodynamic changes during, and the recovery from, anaesthesia for electroconvulsive therapy. Thirty patients were included, each patient being studied on two successive treatments with both propofol 1-1.5 mg kg-1 body weight, and methohexitone 0.75-1 mg kg-1 body weight. The duration and intensity of the modified convulsion were similar for both agents. There was no significant difference with respect of time to eye-opening, time to walking and observer assessment of recovery at 5 and 10 min for the two drugs. The direction of haemodynamic changes during the treatment were similar with both agents, although a significantly greater decrease (P less than 0.05) in diastolic arterial pressure following induction with propofol compared to methohexitone, and a significantly greater increase (P less than 0.05) in systolic arterial pressure following the fit with methohexitone compared to propofol, were noted.