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The use of ketamine anesthesia in electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) has been limited by its effects on blood pressure and concerns about untoward psychological reactions. However, because its effect on seizures is 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 pressures were elevated above those seen with methohexital, seizure lengths actually decreased nonsignificantly with ketamine. There were no adverse psychological reactions noted with ketamine, which was generally well tolerated. It is concluded that ketamine anesthesia with the doses used in this series is unlikely to be associated with longer seizures in ECT. However, for theoretical reasons discussed, ketamine may be worth studying further in ECT.
K G Rasmussen, and
M R Jarvis, and
C F Zorumski
February 2014,
Psychiatry research,
K G Rasmussen, and
M R Jarvis, and
C F Zorumski
January 2021,
Innovations in clinical neuroscience,
K G Rasmussen, and
M R Jarvis, and
C F Zorumski
June 2018,
Canadian journal of anaesthesia = Journal canadien d'anesthesie,
K G Rasmussen, and
M R Jarvis, and
C F Zorumski
September 2010,
The journal of ECT,
K G Rasmussen, and
M R Jarvis, and
C F Zorumski
September 2016,
The journal of ECT,
K G Rasmussen, and
M R Jarvis, and
C F Zorumski
July 2017,
International psychogeriatrics,
K G Rasmussen, and
M R Jarvis, and
C F Zorumski
October 2021,
Current opinion in anaesthesiology,
K G Rasmussen, and
M R Jarvis, and
C F Zorumski
January 1999,
Annals of Saudi medicine,
K G Rasmussen, and
M R Jarvis, and
C F Zorumski
January 1985,
Convulsive therapy,
K G Rasmussen, and
M R Jarvis, and
C F Zorumski
October 2014,
Australasian psychiatry : bulletin of Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists,
