Article Text
Abstract
Please confirm that an ethics committee approval has been applied for or granted: Not relevant (see information at the bottom of this page)
Application for ESRA Abstract Prizes: I don’t wish to apply for the ESRA Prizes
Background and Aims Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is a controlled electrical stimulus that affects central nervous system and leads to convulsion. Such as every other medical procedure, electroconvulsive therapy has some side effects like headache and myalgia. Patient undergoing electroconvulsive therapy receives deferent anesthetic drugs and some drugs like Midazolam, Atropine etc. to reduce side effects.
Methods This study included 40 patients who were candidates for receiving electroconvulsive therapy. By using convenience sampling, patients were divided into 2 groups of 20 people. Midazolam were given to one group while the other received placebo. Two patients in midazolam group were removed because of short period of convulsion (lower than 20 seconds). The collected data were analyzed using independent t and chi-square tests.
Results 16 men (42.1%) and 22 women (57.9%) were studied. The incidence of headache (P < 0.001), myalgia (P = 0.014) and vomiting (P = 0.011) was significantly higher in witness group. The incidence of coughing and laryngospasm was not significantly different between the two groups (P > 0.050).
Conclusions Midazolam can reduce convulsion time but in most cases, convulsions last more than 25 seconds, which is in therapeutic range. So, it cannot affect the therapeutic value of electroconvulsive therapy. Preemptive midazolam reduces Post-electroconvulsive-therapy headache and myalgia.