Publication: Comparative study of esmolol and labetalol to attenuate haemodynamic responses after electroconvulsive therapy
Date
2007
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Kathmandu University
Abstract
Objective: The study was designed to evaluate the hemodynamic effects of Esmolol and labetalol in patients
undergoing electroconvulsive therapy.
Materials and Methods: Ninety patients undergoing electroconvulsive therapy treatment were studied according to
randomized, double blind placebo controlled protocol. Ninety patients were divided into three groups with thirty
patients in each group. Patients received either Esmolol (1mg/kg), Labetalol (0.25mg/kg) or Normal Saline
(placebo) intravenously just after induction with propofol. The baseline heart rate and blood pressure were recorded.
Hemodynamic parameters before and after drug therapy and after the ECT current application, were recorded at
different time intervals.
Results: It was found that Esmolol significantly attenuated the degree of tachycardia and hypertension after ECT in
comparison with placebo in the first three minutes (p<0.05), whereas the rise in HR and blood pressure was
significantly blunted in the labetalol group in comparison to placebo, from three minutes onward till ten minutes.
(p<o.o5 ).
Conclusion: It was concluded that Esmolol is effective in blunting the hemodynamic response after ECT stimulus in
the first three minutes after application of the electrical current, whereas Labetalol is effective after five minutes
onwards till ten minutes.
Key words: Electroconvulsive therapy, hemodynamic stress response, hypertension, tachycardia, sympathetic
nervous system, beta adrenergic antagonists, esmolol, labetalol.
Description
Shrestha S 1, Shrestha BR2, Thapa C 3 Pradhan SN 4, Thapa R 3, Adhikari S5
1Lecturer, 2 Assistant Professor, 3Medical Officer, Dept of Anaesthesia and IC, 4Assistant Professor, 5Lecturer, Dept of Psychiatry, Kathmandu Medical College Teaching Hospital, Kathmandu, Nepal.