Assessment of the effect of addition of propofol to remifentanil on seizure duration, homodynamic change and recovery from anesthesia

General anesthesia is required to perform ECT. The hypnotic drug used for induction of anesthesia in ECT may affect the duration of seizure and recovery from anesthesia and also homodynamic change. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of addition of remifentanil to propofol for induction of anesthesia in ECT on seizure duration, homodynamic change and recovery from anesthesia. Twenty ASA 1 and 2 patients scheduled for ECT underwent induction of anesthesia for two times randomly with remifentanil-propofol (study group) or saline-propofol (control group). ECT induced via bilateral electrodes and after injection of 0.5 Mg atropine, 50 Microgram remifentanil (study group) or 3 ML saline and 1Mg propofol, 0.5 Mg/Kg succinylcoline (control group). Then the patients were oxygenated with 100% oxygen via face mask. Systolic and diastolic blood pressures and heart rate were measured before induction of anesthesia and 1, 5 and 10 minutes after termination of seizure. Duration of seizure, time of opening of the eyes on command after anesthesia and time for sitting and walking 10 meters without help were also measured and recorded. Data were introduced into SPSS soft ware and analyzed by means of T test and ANOVA. P value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Systolic and diastolic pressures as well as heart rate increased after induction of seizure in both methods but this increase was significantly higher in control group. Duration of seizure was the same in two groups. The time for opening of the eyes on command and sitting without help after termination of seizure were similar in both groups. Our study shows addition of remifentanil to propofol for induction of anesthesia in ECT has no effect on duration of seizure and recovery from anesthesia but modifies the homodynamic response to ECT.