Abstract

A reader has pointed out that when propofol (Diprivan - ICI) is used to induce anaesthesia for electroconvulsive therapy it attenuates electrical seizure activity, observed seizures and shortens seizure duration - more so than methohexitone. It is generally believed that the therapeutic benefit of ECT is due to the electrical seizure activity it produces, and it therefore seems advisable not to weaken this by using propofol. Whether propofol in fact makes ECT less effective is not known, and is being investigated. This should be made clear in the data sheet for propofol.