Anaesthesia in electroconvulsive therapy

Abstract Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is a safe and efficient procedure performed for the treatment of drug resistant depression and other psychiatric disorders. Nowadays, its administration under general anaesthesia is a worldwide process. Anaesthetic management generally involves a short acting barbiturate such as thiopental in induction followed by a muscle relaxant. Succinylcholine is the drug of choice for muscle relaxation. This approach prevents patients from suffering hazardous orthopaedic injuries due to confusion. The effectiveness of ECT depends on an adequate seizure, and so the anaesthetist should be aware of the factors that influence the duration of seizures as well as concomitant diseases and potential adverse antidepressive drug reactions. An acute haemodynamic response due to sympathetic discharge in the course of the seizure provokes abrupt cardiovascular and cerebrovascular changes such as bradycardia, tachycardia, hypertension and raised intracranial pressure. The control of responses by b-blockers and similar agents is especially important in patients with cardiac or intracerebral problems. ECT is applicable in nearly all age groups and even in pregnant subjects. The aim of this article is to review the aspects of anaesthetic management of safe and effective ECT.