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Central nervous system
Central nervous system

Electroconvulsive therapy
Definition:

Electroconvulsive therapy is an electric shock used to induce a controlled seizure intended as a treatment for chemical imbalances in the brain.

The brain is still not well understood, nor is the reason for the curative effects electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) has on some individuals. ECT was overused in the past and since has come to have a mixed reputation.

Great care is now taken to ensure that ECT is warranted before its use, and you must give your signed consent before its implementation.
Alternative Names:
Shock treatment; ECT

How the test is performed:

The procedure will most likely be performed in the recovery room of a hospital, in the operating room itself, or possibly in your hospital room. An intravenous is inserted to provide anesthetic medication. Your vital signs are taken initially and continuously throughout the procedure.

An anesthesiologist administers anesthesia, and after you are asleep, places a tube in your throat to help you breath. A paralyzing agent (called succinylcholine) is then administered to prevent the seizure from spreading to your body. The electrodes are then applied to your head with conducting jelly and a brief shock (less than 2 seconds) is administered.

When you awaken, you will be mildly disoriented and will probably experience a brief memory loss, but this will pass.
How to prepare for the test:

Because a general anesthesia will be administered, do not eat or drink after the midnight before the ECT. This helps to prevent aspiration of vomitus during the procedure. You will empty your bladder right before the procedure to prevent incontinence.
How the test will feel:

If the procedure is to take place outside your room, you will be wheeled to that location in the gurney. The general anesthesia is then administered as you count backward from a 100. When you awake from the anesthesia, you may be confused and tired. Your vital signs will be monitored closely after the ECT to assure proper recovery.
Why the test is performed:
The procedure is performed to improve the condition of the following disorders:
What the risks are:
Possible adverse effects from ECT include:
Special considerations:
Patients with heart conditions are given pre-ECT medications. Having a pre-existing seizure disorder does not exclude one from being able to get ECT.
Review Date: 5/26/2001
Reviewed By: Christos Ballas, M.D., Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.
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