Electroconvulsive therapy during the third trimester of pregnancy

ECT was administered in two patients during the third trimester of pregnancy. Patient A experienced uterine contractions following the second, third, and sixth treatments. Tocolytic therapy was needed only after the third treatment. Also, following the third treatment, we observed decreased fetal heart rate variability and uterine contraction-related late cardiac deceleration, which indicated fetal compromise. Following the sixth treatment, there was an insignificant drop in biophysical profile score. No such effects were noted with Patient B despite risk factors for premature labor.