Abstract
Purpose: Several different anti-hypertensive regimens have been introduced for the prevention of systemic hyperdynamic responses after electrically induced seizures. In the present study, the effects of anti-hypertensive medications on cerebral circulation were studied.
Methods: Systemic blood pressure was controlled by several anti-hypertensive medications, nicardipine, prostaglandin EI, alprenolol and nitroglycerin, in 30 patients (150 electroconvulsive therapy trials). Changes in cerebral blood flow velocity were measured by transcranial Doppler sonography of the right middle cerebral artery from the start of anesthesia to 10 min after the electrical shock.
Results: Administration of a Ca2+ antagonist, nicardipine, or prostaglandin EI did not alter the augmented cerebral blood flow velocity after the seizure. However, a ß-adrenergic blocking agent, alprenolol (P<0.05) or nitroglycerin (P<0.01) partially inhibited the increase in cerebral blood flow velocity. Maximal blood flow velocity was 133% larger than the pre-anesthesia value in the control group, 109% in the nicardipine group, 113% in the prostaglandin EI group, 72% in the alprenolol group, and 45% in the nitroglycerin group, respectively. The increase in cerebral blood flow velocity after electrically induced seizure was independent of systemic blood pressure. Internal jugular venous saturation (SjO2) was increased, and difference in arterial and venous concentrations of lactate was not altered in all groups.
Conclusions: Cerebral hemodynamics is altered by ECT, even when systemic hemodynamics are stabilized by antihypertensive medication. Although the effects of antihypertensive medicine on cerebral hemodynamics are variable, systemic blood pressure control by these agents does not induce cerebral ischemia after ECT.
Résumé
Objectif: Différentes thérapies antihypertensives ont été proposées comme moyen de prévention des réponses hyperdynamiques généralisées à la suite d’électrochocs. Dans la présente étude, on a analysé les effets de médicaments antihypertenseurs sur la circulation cérébrale.
Méthode: La pression sanguine générale a été contrôlée par différents médicaments antihypertenseurs, la nicardipine, la prostaglandine El, l’alprénolol et la nitroglycérine, chez 30 patients lors de 150 essais d’électrochocs. Les changements de vitesse circulatoire cérébrale ont été mesurés par échographie Doppler transcrânienne de l’artère cérébrale moyenne droite, du début de l’anesthésie jusqu’à 10 min après l’électrochoc.
Résultats: L’administration d’un antagoniste de Ca2+, la nicardipine, ou la prostaglandine El n’ont pas modifié la vitesse circulatoire cérébrale augmentée après les convulsions. Toutefois, un agent ß-bloquant, l’alprénolol (P<0,05) ou la nitroglycérine (P<0,01) ont partiellement inhibé l’augmentation de vitesse circulatoire cérébrale. La vitesse circulatoire maximale a été 133 % de la valeur préanesthésique mesurée dans le groupe témoin, de 109 % dans le groupe nicardipine, de 113 % dans le groupe prostaglandine El, de 72 % dans le groupe alprénolol et de 45 % dans le groupe nitroglycérine, respectivement. L’augmentation de la vitesse circulatoire cérébrale à la suite d’électrochocs a été indépendante de la pression sanguine générale. La saturation en oxygène de la veine jugulaire interne (SjO2) a été augmentée et les différences de concentration artérielle et veineuse de lactate n’ont pas été modifiées, dans aucun groupe.
Conclusion: L’hémodynamie cérébrale est modifiée par l’électrochoc, même quand la stabilité de l’hémodynamie générale est conservée par une médication antihypertensive. Quoique les effets des antihypertenseurs sur l’hémodynamie cérébrale soient variables, la pression sanguine contrôlée par ces médicaments n’induit pas d’ischémie cérébrale après l’électrochoc.
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Saito, S., Kadoi, Y., Iriuchijima, N. et al. Reduction of cerebral hyperemia with anti-hypertensive medication after electroconvulsive therapy. Can J Anesth 47, 767–774 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03019479
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03019479