KETAMINE ANESTHESIA IN ELECTROCONVULSIVE-THERAPY

The use of ketamine anesthesia in electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) has been limited by its effects on blood pressure and concerns about untow ard psychological reactions. However, because its effect on seizures i s presumably less than that of methohexital, ketamine is listed as an alternative method to prolong seizure length. In this case series, 10 patients were given ketamine anesthesia during ECT. Whereas blood pres sures were elevated above those seen with methohexital, seizure length s actually decreased nonsignificantly with ketamine. There were no adv erse psychological reactions noted with ketamine, which was generally well tolerated. It is concluded that ketamine anesthesia with the dose s used in this series is unlikely to be associated with longer seizure s in ECT However, for theoretical reasons discussed, ketamine may be w orth studying further in ECT.