Excessive hypertension and pulmonary edema after electroconvulsive therapy

Anesthetic care for electroconvulsive therapy

Counselling and medication are often thought of as the only interventions for psychiatric disorders, but electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) has also been applied in clinical practice for over 80 years. ECT refers to the application of an electric stimulus through the patient’s scalp to treat psychiatric disorders such as treatment-resistant depression, catatonia, and schizophrenia. It is a safe, effective, and evidence-based therapy performed under general anesthesia with muscle relaxation. An appropriate level of anesthesia is essential for safe and successful ECT; however, little is known about this because of the limited interest from anesthesiologists. As the incidence of ECT increases, more anesthesiologists will be required to better understand the physiological changes, complications, and pharmacological actions of anesthetics and adjuvant drugs. Therefore, this review focuses on the fundamental physiological changes, management, and pharmacological actions associated with various drugs, such as anesthetics and neuromuscular blocking agents, as well as the comorbidities, indications, contraindications, and complications of using these agents as part of an ECT procedure through a literature review and our own experiences.

Acute neurogenic pulmonary edema following electroconvulsive therapy: a case report

OBJECTIVE

We report the case of a 47-year-old man with depression who developed acute dyspnea, hypoxemia, and mild hemoptysis after electroconvulsive therapy (ECT).

METHOD

Intravenous carbazochrome sodium sulfate hydrate as a hemostatic drug (100 mg/day) was prescribed for 2 days. On the day of ECT, oxygen inhalation (4 L/min) was continued, and SpO2 was maintained at 94-96%.

RESULTS

Chest radiography showed improvement in alveolar infiltration. Chest CT 6 days after ECT also confirmed the disappearance of ground glass opacities in the lung fields.

CONCLUSION(S)

NPE is life threatening and should be recognized as an uncommon adverse event associated with ECT.

Non-cardiogenic pulmonary edema complicating electroconvulsive therapy: short review of the pathophysiology and diagnostic approach

Acute pulmonary edema complicating electroconvulsive therapy is an extremely uncommon event that has rarely been described in the literature. Different theories, including one suggesting a cardiogenic component, have been proposed to explain its genesis. The present report describes a classic presentation of this condition with review of its potential mechanisms and diagnostic approach. After successful completion of a session of electroconvulsive therapy, a 42-year-old woman with major depressive disorder developed acute systemic high blood pressure, shortness of breath, and hemoptysis. A chest radiograph demonstrated diffuse bilateral pulmonary infiltrates. Initially cardiogenic pulmonary edema was presumed, but an extensive diagnostic work-up demonstrated normal systolic and diastolic left ventricular function, and with only supportive measures, a complete clinical and radiographic recovery was achieved within 48 hours. The present case does not support any cardiogenic mechanism in the genesis of this condition.

Myocardial stunning after electroconvulsive therapy in patients with an apparently normal heart

Myocardial stunning refers to contractile dysfunction that persists after an ischemic episode and restoration of coronary blood flow. In this article, 2 cases of myocardial stunning after electroconvulsive therapy in patients with an apparently normal heart are presented. The incidence of this condition is unknown. It is observed that this condition seems to occur in females and in the obese and is generally associated with rapid recovery. This occurrence seems to be brought about by autonomic changes that occur during electroconvulsive therapy. Several drugs have been used to ameliorate the condition, although studies were limited to establish efficacy of regimens.

Pulmonary edema after electroconvulsive therapy

A 42-year-old right-handed man with major depression, posttraumatic stress disorder, gastroesophageal reflux disease, and hypertension received 7 treatments of right unilateral electroconvulsive therapy, with the only complications being elevated blood pressure up to 180/120 mm Hg and agitation upon awakening. During eighth treatment, he experienced blood pressures as high as 210/130 mm Hg with severe agitation upon awakening from anesthesia followed by pulmonary edema. Pulmonary edema is rarely seen as a complication in electroconvulsive therapy, but if the airway becomes obstructed or there is excessive sympathetic discharge during the procedure, pulmonary edema may be more likely to occur.

A case of negative-pressure pulmonary edema after electroconvulsive therapy

Pulmonary edema after electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is a rarely reported condition that can result in serious morbidity and even death if not promptly recognized and treated. We report the case of 21-year-old man with FG syndrome and schizophrenia who developed negative-pressure pulmonary edema after his 28th ECT. The patient developed acute hypoxemia requiring positive-pressure ventilation and was observed overnight in the intensive care unit. He recovered fully and received 43 subsequent ECT treatments without complication. This case illustrates the importance of taking steps to prevent airway obstruction as well as recognizing this rare but serious complication.

Pulmonary edema after electroconvulsive therapy in a patient treated for long-standing asthma with a beta2 stimulant

A 68-year-old man was scheduled to receive 8 treatments of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) for severe depression. He was being treated for long-standing asthma with a beta2 stimulant, clenbuterol hydrochloride, and had experienced no asthma attack for 9 years. Although he experienced no adverse consequence in his 7 treatments, pulmonary edema ensued from his eighth treatment despite no change in anesthesia and in the technical parameters of ECT. He was treated with oxygen and intravenous hydrocortisone, after which he quickly recovered. Transient eosinophilia was observed, but clinical symptoms of asthma did not appear. Although the association between pulmonary edema and well-controlled asthma was unclear, thiopental as induction of anesthesia or esmolol as poststimulus delivery might have played a role in the event. There may be a possibility of pulmonary edema even after several uneventful ECT treatments in a patient with asthma.