Lack of effect of ECT on Holter monitor recordings before and after treatment
Keith G Rasmussen1, Victor M Karpyak, Stephen C Hammill
1Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota 55905, USA. rasmussen.keith@mayo.edu
Objective:
There has been concern about persisting cardiac effects of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). Several studies have analyzed Holter monitor recordings before and after ECT, and generally have found no significant effects.
Methods:
As part of a study on heart rate variability changes in ECT, we performed 2-3 hour Holter monitoring before and at least 1 hour after courses of ECT in 11 depressed patients without cardiac illness.
Results:
There was no significant difference before and after Ect in heart rate, frequency ofventricular or supraventricular events, or in ST segments.
Conclusion:
These date provide further evidnece of the general cardiac safety of ECT.
Related Concept Videos
Holter Monitor: 24-Hour Monitoring
Pulse rhythm
Conversely, an irregular pulse pattern is termed dysrhythmia, stemming from disruptions in cardiac muscle...
Electrocardiogram
Three major waveforms are present in a typical ECG recording: the P wave, the QRS complex, and the T...
Dysrhythmias V: Evaluating Dysrhythmias
Exercise Stress Test
Exercise stress testing, commonly known as a treadmill test, is a noninvasive procedure used to evaluate cardiovascular function and diagnose heart conditions.
Definition
An exercise stress test measures the heart's response to exertion using a treadmill or stationary bicycle. Chest electrodes record the heart's electrical activity through an ECG, and blood pressure is monitored regularly.
Purposes
Electroconvulsive Therapy


