Anaesthesia
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Etomidate in electroconvulsive therapy. A within-patient comparison with alphaxalone/alphadalone.
In a group of 31 patients undergoing electroconvulsive therapy, there was no significant difference between the times of return of eyelash reflex, swallowing and respiration following a single induction dose of 0.2 mg/kg of etomidate as compared with an induction dose of 0.036 ml/kg of alphaxalone/alphadalone. The incidence of involuntary movements and increased muscle tone was significantly greater after etomidate than following alphaxalone/alphadalone; but the involuntary movements were never marked. The overall incidence of pain on injection was 15% after etomidate. There was a low incidence of venous sequelae following either drug.