The use of Arfonad for the Alleviation of Cardio-Vascular Stress Following Electro-Convulsive Therapy

Abstract

The safety of electro-convulsive therapy (E.C.T.) has been greatly increased since muscle relaxants were first introduced for this purpose. Short-acting relaxants such as suxamethonium and suxethonium reduce the usual strong tonic and clonic contractions to faint muscle twitchings, and fractures do not occur. Respiration can be maintained throughout by positive pressure inflation so that cyanosis and stertorous breathing are avoided. This may ensure that material from small pulmonary lesions is not disseminated to other areas. It is disappointing that the cardiovascular commotion is only slightly reduced, and deaths still occur, albeit rarely.

Effects of landiolol on hemodynamic response and seizure duration during electroconvulsive therapy

“…Because of the possible cardiovascular morbidity associated with ECT, various drugs have been administered in an effort to minimize the acute hemodynamic changes [6]. Recommended pretreatment regimens to block the ECTinduced hyperdynamic response include trimethaphan [7], nitroprusside [8], alfentanil [9], clonidine [10], propranolol [11], labetalol [12], esmolol [13][14][15], nicardipine [16], and remifentanil [17].…”

Beta-blocking agents during electroconvulsive therapy: a review

“…Esmolol was given 2 min before ECT. All were treated with a right unilateral stimulus (6). In a study by Van den Broek and colleagues, 32 a bolus…”