Key result
Electroconvulsive therapy-induced seizures doubled cerebral blood flow and increased the respiratory quotient from 0.95 to 1.29, suggesting lactic acid production within the brain.
Why the study?
Does electroconvulsive therapy alter cerebral blood flow and metabolism in anesthetized, paralyzed, and ventilated patients?
Observational (n=11)
Does electroconvulsive therapy alter cerebral blood flow and metabolism in anesthetized, paralyzed, and ventilated patients?
Electrically induced seizures double cerebral blood flow and metabolism and lead to cerebral lactic acid production even without arterial hypoxemia.
Hypothesis-generating for cerebral lactic acidosis during ECT; leaves open generalizability beyond this single case.
Cerebral blood flow (CBF) measured by the xenon Xe 133 clearance method and cerebral metabolism was studied in 11 pentobarbital anesthetized, paralyzed, and ventilated patients during electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). Cerebral blood flow, oxygen, and glucose uptake doubled during seizures. Jugular venous Pco₂and Po₂both increased about 10 mm Hg during seizures, while the arterial gas tensions remained virtually unchanged. The jugular venous-arterial lactate difference increased an average of 0.08 millimol/liter one minute after ECT. The respiratory quotient (RQ) increased an average of 0.95 to 1.29 during seizures. The data suggest production of fixed acid (lactic acid) within the brain during seizures, even when arterial hypoxemia was avoided.
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Brodersen et al. (1973) conducted an observational in Patients undergoing electroconvulsive therapy (n=11). Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) was evaluated on Cerebral blood flow and cerebral metabolism. Electroconvulsive therapy-induced seizures doubled cerebral blood flow and increased the respiratory quotient from 0.95 to 1.29, suggesting lactic acid production within the brain.
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