Which anesthesia keeps blood pressure steady during ECT?
NCT ID NCT07824817
First seen Sep 17, 2026 · Last updated Sep 18, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) treats certain psychiatric conditions by inducing seizures under general anesthesia, but it often causes sudden spikes in blood pressure and heart rate. This trial compares three anesthetic approaches, saline, dexmedetomidine, and remifentanil, in 24 adults receiving six ECT sessions. Researchers measure blood pressure, seizure duration, and recovery time to see which method best maintains stable vital signs without reducing treatment effectiveness.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- dexmedetomidine, remifentanil, and saline (placebo) given as intravenous infusions during electroconvulsive therapy
- What this could lead to
- If one anesthetic approach works better, it could help doctors choose safer anesthesia for ECT patients, especially those with heart or blood pressure problems.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small Phase 4 trial with only 24 participants, so results may not apply to everyone. Anesthesia during ECT carries risks like blood pressure swings, and the study may not find a clear winner among the three methods.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Phase 4
Runs after approval, following long-term safety and how well the treatment works in everyday use.
- Participants
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About 24 people
The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.
- Expected to start
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Sep 2026
An estimate. Start dates often move.
- Expected to finish
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Apr 2027
An estimate. End dates often move.
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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18 to 60 years
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
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Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * Upremedicated ASA I-II (American Society of Anesthesiologists's physical status) patients, * Patients scheduled for six ECT sessions for a variety of psychiatric conditions Exclusion Criteria: * refusal to participate, * age below 18 or above 60 years * pregnancy * asthma * current use of β-adrenergic blockers * myocardial infarction within the previous six months * atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter, * heart block * a known personal or family history of hypersensitivity to any of the study drugs
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As listed by the trial registrant
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How to take part
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The official record
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