Acidaemia, hypokalaemia and electrocardiographic changes after unmodified electroconvulsive therapy [ect]

ABSTRACT

Twenty-eight [fourteen males and fourteen females] psychiatric patients [sixteen had mood disorders, either unipolar or bipolar disorder and twelve patients had schizophrenic disorders] were studied for the effects of ECT on their electrolytes, acid-base state and on electrocardiogram [ECG]. Significant increases in both systolic blood pressure [SBP] and diastolic blood pressure [DBP] were noted in both first and last ECT sessions [ECT-S]. T wave duration decreased significantly in the first ECT-S only [0.624 +/- 0.204 vs 0.696. Correlations were done between changes in items and changes in electrolytes and acid-base state. Patient's acid-base status and blood electrolytes should be routinely measured together with a follow up ECG after ECT-S, especially in the elderly and in patients with cardiovascular [CV] disease. Unmodified ECT should not be used anymore in psychiatric practice except with appropriate precautions in non- risky patients