Is Propofol Anesthesia Associated with Seizure-Like Phenomena?

A common problem with ECT administration that may be associated with methohexital or propofol anesthesia is the occurrence of clonic or seizure-like phenomena experienced by patients before they receive the stimuli used to induce seizures. These authors performed a literature review of seizure-like phenomena associated with propofol anesthesia for various surgical reasons (except epilepsy).

Using broad research criteria, the authors identified 516 reports from 1983 to 2000 and were able to analyze 62 reports on 81 patients (mostly case studies or series). Eighty-two percent of patients with preexisting epilepsy and 43% of patients without epilepsy had generalized tonic-clonic seizures. Other movements included nonlateralized focal motor phen…