Anaesthesia in electroconvulsive therapy. Special conditions / Anestesia en terapia electroconvulsiva. Condiciones especiales

OBJECTIVES: Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is one of the main techniques available for the treatment of such serious mental illnesses as schizophrenia and drug-resistant depression. The pre-anaesthetic assessment appropriate for patients with various mental disorders or pathologies does not differ substantially from that of any patient prior to undergoing anaesthesia for a surgical procedure. The present review aims to propose guidelines to achieve a higher level of safety and effectiveness during ECT in the most frequent situations, in accordance with the current literature. METHODS: We conducted a search on the role of anaesthesia in ECT in the Ovid MEDLINE, PubMed, and SciELO (Scientific Electronic Library Online) databases, with special attention to the populations undergoing this type of therapy. The search was carried out between 1978 and December 2016. RESULTS: We included the 96 articles that contained the most important recommendations for the preparation of this guide. CONCLUSIONS: We propose these guidelines in order to achieve a higher level of safety and effectiveness during ECT in special conditions. We also summarize the most important attitude to be taken into account by the anaesthesiologist in these cases

OBJETIVOS: La terapia electroconvulsiva (TEC) es una de las principales técnicas disponibles para el tratamiento de enfermedades mentales tan graves como la esquizofrenia y la depresión resistente al tratamiento farmacológico. La evaluación preanestésica adecuada en pacientes con diversos trastornos mentales o enfermedades no difiere sustancialmente de la de otros pacientes antes de recibir anestesia para un procedimiento quirúrgico. La presente revisión tiene como objetivo proponer pautas para lograr mayor nivel de seguridad y efectividad durante la TEC en las situaciones más frecuentes, de acuerdo con la bibliografía actual. MÉTODOS: Se realizó una búsqueda sobre el papel de la anestesia en la TEC en las bases de datos Ovid MEDLINE, PubMed y Scientific Electronic Library Online (SciELO), con especial hincapié en las poblaciones que reciben este tipo de terapia. La búsqueda se realizó entre 1978 y diciembre de 2016. RESULTADOS: Se incluyeron los 96 artículos que contenían las recomendaciones más importantes para la preparación de esta guía. CONCLUSIONES: Proponemos estas pautas para lograr mayor nivel de seguridad y efectividad durante la TEC en condiciones especiales. También resumimos la actitud más importante que debe tener en cuenta el anestesiólogo en estos casos

Anaesthesia in electroconvulsive therapy. Special conditions.

OBJECTIVES: Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is one of the main techniques available for the treatment of such serious mental illnesses as schizophrenia and drug-resistant depression. The pre-anaesthetic assessment appropriate for patients with various mental disorders or pathologies does not differ substantially from that of any patient prior to undergoing anaesthesia for a surgical procedure. The present review aims to propose guidelines to achieve a higher level of safety and effectiveness during ECT in the most frequent situations, in accordance with the current literature. METHODS: We conducted a search on the role of anaesthesia in ECT in the Ovid MEDLINE, PubMed, and SciELO (Scientific Electronic Library Online) databases, with special attention to the populations undergoing this type of therapy. The search was carried out between 1978 and December 2016. RESULTS: We included the 96 articles that contained the most important recommendations for the preparation of this guide. CONCLUSIONS: We propose these guidelines in order to achieve a higher level of safety and effectiveness during ECT in special conditions. We also summarize the most important attitude to be taken into account by the anaesthesiologist in these cases.

Propofol y pentotal como agentes anestésicos en la terapia electroconvulsiva: un estudio retrospectivo en el trastorno depresivo mayor / Propofol and thiopental as anesthetic agents in electroconvulsive therapy: a retrospective study in major depression

Objetivo. Determinar la influencia de la utilización de propofol y pentotal como anestésicos en la terapia electroconvulsiva (TEC), en relación con la duración de la crisis, la dosis eléctrica, la eficacia clínica, el perfil cardiovascular y la aparición de efectos cognitivos. Método. Estudio retrospectivo sobre 127 pacientes que recibieron TEC bilateral como tratamiento de un episodio depresivo mayor. Resultados. La duración media de la convulsión eléctrica en el grupo de propofol fue significativamente más corta que en el de pentotal (21,23 ± 6,09 versus 28,24 ± 6,67 s; p < 0,001). La dosis de estímulo media fue de 348,22 mC en el grupo de propofol y de 238 mC en el grupo de pentotal (p < 0,001). Propofol se asoció a un menor incremento de la tensión arterial. No se encontraron diferencias en la respuesta clínica al tratamiento ni en la aparición de otros efectos adversos. Conclusiones. El anestésico utilizado en la TEC puede determinar diferencias en parámetros como la duración de la crisis o la carga eléctrica aplicada. Sin embargo, estas diferencias no parecen traducirse en la eficacia clínica ni en el patrón de efectos adversos (AU)

Objective. To determine the influence of propofol and thiopental as anesthetics in electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), as regards, seizure duration, electrical charge, clinical efficacy, cardiovascular profile, and presence of adverse cognitive effects. Methods. A retrospective design including 127 patients who received bilateral ECT for the treatment of a major depressive episode. Results. The mean seizure duration in the propofol group was significantly shorter than in the thiopental group (21.23 ± 6.09 versus 28.24 ± 6.67 seconds, P < .001). The mean stimulus charge was 348.22 mC in the propofol group, and 238 mC in the thiopental group (P < .001). Propofol was associated with a lower increase in blood pressure. There were no differences between groups in treatment response or presence of adverse effects. Conclusions. The anesthetic agent used in ECT might determine differences in parameters such as seizure duration or electrical charge. However, this does not seem to be translated into differences in clinical efficacy or the pattern of adverse effects observed (AU)

Propofol and thiopental as anesthetic agents in electroconvulsive therapy: a retrospective study in major depression.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the influence of propofol and thiopental as anesthetics in electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), as regards, seizure duration, electrical charge, clinical efficacy, cardiovascular profile, and presence of adverse cognitive effects. METHODS: A retrospective design including 127 patients who received bilateral ECT for the treatment of a major depressive episode. RESULTS: The mean seizure duration in the propofol group was significantly shorter than in the thiopental group (21.23±6.09 versus 28.24±6.6 7s, P<.001). The mean stimulus charge was 348.22 mC in the propofol group, and 238 mC in the thiopental group (P<.001). Propofol was associated with a lower increase in blood pressure. There were no differences between groups in treatment response or presence of adverse effects. CONCLUSIONS: The anesthetic agent used in ECT might determine differences in parameters such as seizure duration or electrical charge. However, this does not seem to be translated into differences in clinical efficacy or the pattern of adverse effects observed.

Bilateral posterior vitreous detachment after electroconvulsive therapy.

In this case report, we describe a patient with an acute bilateral posterior detachment of the vitreous, which developed during electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) under general anesthesia. The patient developed symptoms of posterior vitreous detachment immediately after recovery from the eighth ECT session. The ophthalmologist confirmed the clinical diagnosis and ECT was stopped. We review the literature and discuss the ocular side effects of ECT.