Comparing the Effects of Propofol and Sodium Thiopental in the Induction of Anesthesia for Electro Convulsive Therapy (ECT)

ECT is one of the most common methods in treatment of different types of psychological disorder. The effectiveness of this therapy has direct relation to the duration of convulsion. Knowing the rate of efficacy of anesthetic drugs over convulsion by ECT and preventing of hemodynamic complications are important. This study was conducted to compare effect of Propofol with Sodium Thiopental in the induction of anesthesia during ECT. The subjects of this randomized, controlled and trial study were 16 patents with psychotic disorders. These patients received Sodium Thiopental and Succinylcholine or Propofol and Succinylcholine during 72 sessions of ECT. Duration of subjective and objective convulsion and hemodynamic changes (HR and MAP) as well as side effects of anesthesia and ECT was recorded. The collected data were analyzed by SPSS. Duration of subjective and objective convulsion was lower in Propofol taken group than Sodium Thiopental taken patients, but this difference was not statistically significant (p=0.32). The variation of hemodynamic parameter was lower among Propofol taken patients. We observed significant difference between two groups regarding to increase of arterial BP’ mean after taking drugs and immediately after ECT (p=0.04). There was not significant difference from view points of prevalence of respiratory, Hemodynamic complications, nausea, vomiting and restlessness between two groups. Duration of convulsion in induction of anesthesia in ECT with Propofol and Sodium Thiopental was not different.