CEREBRAL HEMODYNAMICS DURING ELECTRICALLY-INDUCED SEIZURES

ELECTROCONVULSIVE therapy (ECT) is an appropriate clinical model to in vestigate blood flow during seizures. In this study cerebral blood flo w velocity (CBFV) was measured during 40 ECTs in 10 patients by means of transcranial Doppler sonography. EEG was recorded continuously. Und er general anesthesia, the pre-convulsive blood flow velocity (V-mean) decreased significantly. After ECT, we measured a dramatic increase i n V-mean which was significantly greater in the left MCA than in the r ight MCA. After termination of seizures, flow velocities returned to b aseline levels. The striking increase in cerebral blood flow velocity reflects excessive cerebral metabolism during convulsive neuronal acti vation. The left hemisphere seems to be more sensitive to electrical s timuli as was indicated by its predominant augmentation of CBFVs. (C) 1998 Rapid Science Ltd.