Complications of low dose propofol in electroconvulsive therapy: a case series

Abstract

We report a cases series (of four cases) of serious complications observed after propofol injection for electroconvulsive therapy. The signs and symptoms included hyperthermia, hypotension, lethargy, pancytopenia or leukocytosis, as well as renal and hepatic laboratory parameters disturbances. In all of these cases, signs and symptoms improved rapidly. Although propofol used in these patients was drawn from a multidose vial, which can be a source of contamination and infection, rapid disappearance of the signs and symptoms in 3 of the patients after three hours, and remission of hypotension and lethargy the fourth patient within 10 hours, precludes the possibility of sepsis. Anesthesiologists must remain vigilant during propofol use and must shun the use of multi-dose vials.

Citation: Rahmati J, Shahriari A, Khooshideh M. Complications of low dose propofol in electroconvulsive therapy: a cases series. Anaesth. pain & intensive care 2019;23(1):81-83