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Updated: Jun 8, 2026
Pupillary Response as Assessment of Effective Seizure Induction by Electroconvulsive Therapy
Published on: April 11, 2019
[Placement of stimulus electrodes and heart rate during electroconvulsive therapy]
1Klinikum Schloß Winnenden (Ärztlicher Direktor Dr. G. Hetzel). JosefNagler@gmx.de
Objective:
Bifrontal stimulation in electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) has been increasingly administered and evaluated over the past years. However, no attention has been paid to cardiac side effects of this novel form of treatment during the application of the electrical stimuli.
Method:
Cardiac responses to different electrode positions were compared intraindividually, using synchronised electrocardiograms and waveforms of pulse oximetry.
Results:
Unilateral ECT gave rise to a marked cardiac response during stimulation. Intervals between two consecutive heartbeats increased from 0.6 ± 0.0 sec to 4.1 ± 3.4 sec (mean ± standard deviation). In contrast, stable heart actions were documented in the same patients during bifrontal stimulation.
Conclusion:
The placement of the stimulus electrodes for ECT determines the incidence of asystole events during stimulation. Bifrontal electrode positioning results in less activation of the vagus nerve than unilateral treatment. The longer distance from the electrode site to the nerve in bifrontal treatment could account for these findings.
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01:30Electroconvulsive Therapy
01:28Electrocardiogram Fundamentals
An electrocardiogram (ECG) is a diagnostic tool for identifying cardiac conditions such as arrhythmias, conduction abnormalities, and myocardial ischemia.
Definition
An electrocardiogram (ECG) visualizes the heart's electrical activity by tracing the electrical movement associated with each heartbeat on a graph or monitor. As the heart beats, an electrical wave passes through it, correlating with the cardiac cycle events.
Parts of an ECG
An ECG utilizes electrodes on the skin to...