Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Journal of ECT & Volume 28, Number 3, September 2012 www.ectjournal.com e29
Copyright © 2012 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. Unauthorized reproduction of this article is prohibited.
Bryson et al Journal of ECT & Volume 28, Number 3, September 2012
proved to be inadequate. As such, the initial dose administered for ECT, most patients will likely require a dose close to the
ranged from a minimum of 0.6 mg/kg to a maximum of 1.4 established mean. The dose of methohexital required to induce a
mg/kg, but once again, most of the patients received within 0.1 of level of anesthesia appropriate for ECT for most patients is
the mean dose of 0.9 mg/kg. We chose to examine the dose of 1.0 mg/kg, although some patients may require more or less,
succinylcholine administered on the fourth treatment to see if depending on comorbidities. The dose of succinylcholine re-
there was a change in the range or mean dose. After adjustments quired to provide muscle relaxation sufficient to prevent injury
had been made by the treatment team based on the patient’s during ECT is 0.9 mg/kg, although there is considerable vari-
clinical response to the drug, the range was somewhat greater, as ability in patient response to this drug.
the minimum had been decreased to 0.4 mg/kg. Our study sug-
gests that the optimal dosage for ECT is, in fact, close to the
published standard of 1 mg/kg. REFERENCES
Although a significant number of patients will require an 1. Bryson EO, Aloysi AS, Katz M, et al. Rocuronium as muscle relaxant
adjustment in the dose of both methohexital and succinylcholine for electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) in a patient with adult onset
required to produce adequate anesthesia and muscle relaxation muscular dystrophy. J ECT. 2011;27:e63Ye64.
Copyright © 2012 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. Unauthorized reproduction of this article is prohibited.