Psychiatric Bulletin (2002) 26: 351-353. doi: 10.1192/pb.26.9.351
© 2002 The Royal College of Psychiatrists
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Psychiatric Bulletin (2002) 26: 351-353
© 2002 The Royal College of Psychiatrists

drug information quarterly

Anaesthesia for electroconvulsive therapy: a role for etomidate

Susan M. Benbow, Consultant Psychiatrist with responsibility for ECT, Priti Shah, ECT Anaesthetist and Joe Crentsil, ECT Manager

ECT Department, Edale Building, Manchester Royal Infirmary, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9WL

Declaration of interest

None.

Correspondence: For correspondence: Penn Hospital, Penn Road, Wolverhampton, West Midlands WV4 5HN

AIMS AND METHOD

Three cases are described to illustrate the elective use of etomidate in electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) anaesthesia.

RESULTS

Use of etomidate is described in an individual who was treated with an electrical stimulus at the maximum level for the ECT machine in use; in a person who had severe side-effects with an alternative induction agent; and in a person with severe cardiac disease.

CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS

The anaesthetic drug should be tailored to the individual needs of the person being treated with ECT. Clinics should involve local anaesthetic departments in reviewing their anaesthetic practice.