After this, continued recording showed occasional short bursts of EEG seizure activity, averaging 2-3 seconds. No further motor activity was seen. The patient awakened slowly and no further seizure activity was recorded. A second electrically induced seizure may be the most effective and readily available method for terminating a prolonged seizure. Post-seizure excitement is a feature of many treatments.
Some patients dread their treatments because of the agitation and associated nausea.
We recently changed the anesthesia for one of our more seriously afflicted patients, an adolescent girl whose nausea was so severe that we thought we could not proceed with treatment. Instead of methohexital, Propofol was given. From that point on, her nausea was inconsequential. We have since applied the same maneuver to several other patients who complained of nausea or had been having post ECT agitation, with good outcomes. As Propofol shortens seizure durations, we have only used it for patients exhibiting seizures longer than 60 seconds.