Predictors of Anesthetic Augmentation in Electroconvulsive Therapy: A Retrospective Cohort Study


İPEKÇİOĞLU D., Oflazer C., Konuk N., Atay O., Yildirim Y. E., Avci M., ...Daha Fazla

PSYCHIATRY AND CLINICAL PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY, cilt.36, sa.5, ss.487-498, 2026 (SCI-Expanded)

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Cilt numarası: 36 Sayı: 5
  • Basım Tarihi: 2026
  • Doi Numarası: 10.65801/pcp.3612
  • Dergi Adı: PSYCHIATRY AND CLINICAL PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED)
  • Sayfa Sayıları: ss.487-498
  • İstanbul Üniversitesi-Cerrahpaşa Adresli: Hayır

Özet

Background: Anesthetic augmentation with aminophylline and/or remifentanil is commonly used to prolong seizure duration when propofol-based electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) results in inadequate seizures. We aimed to identify independent predictors of subsequent augmentation use and develop an exploratory risk score. Methods: This retrospective cohort study (January-December 2015, single center) included 527 patients (4,016 ECT sessions) who received propofol anesthesia. Patients were categorized as propofol-only (n=357) or augmentation (n=170) group. Multiple logistic regression was used to identify predictors of augmentation. ANCOVA compared the effect of different adjunctive agents on post-adjunct seizure duration. Results: Shorter first-session electroencephalography (EEG) seizure duration (OR = 0.968, P < .001) and higher first-session seizure-inducing energy (OR = 1.044, P < .001) independently predicted augmentation, while age was not significant (P = .120). All three augmentation strategies significantly prolonged seizure duration; although, the sample sizes for individual agents (aminophylline n=85, remifentanil n=44, combination n=41) precluded a definitive comparative analysis; the ANCOVA revealed no significant differences between agents (F=0.967, P = .382). CGI scores were comparable between groups at baseline (P = .412) and discharge (P = .321). An exploratory risk score based on the two significant predictors showed good discriminative ability (AUC = 0.786). Conclusion: First-session EEG seizure duration and stimulation energy are practical predictors of subsequent augmentation use, whereas age is not independently predictive. No statistically significant difference in post-adjunct seizure duration was detected among the three adjunctive strategies and augmentation is associated with comparable clinical improvement. External validation of the proposed risk score is required before clinical implementation.