Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 19, 2025
04:51
Pupillary Response as Assessment of Effective Seizure Induction by Electroconvulsive Therapy
Published on: April 11, 2019
9.4K
Electroconvulsive Therapy in Heart Transplant Patients: To Avoid or Embrace?
Evan Ketcham1, Oliver M Glass2, Adriana P Hermida3
1From the Department of Psychiatry, Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, NH.
The Journal of ECT
|August 10, 2023
Summary
Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) can be a safe and effective treatment for severe depression in heart transplant recipients. While hemodynamic changes occur, serious cardiac complications were not reported in this literature review.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Psychiatry
- Transplantation Medicine
Background:
- Patients with heart disease have a higher risk of depression.
- Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is effective for severe depression but can cause hemodynamic changes.
- Cardiac transplant patients have unique physiological considerations due to a denervated heart.
Purpose of the Study:
- To summarize the existing literature on the use of ECT in heart transplant patients.
- To evaluate the safety and efficacy of ECT in this specific patient population.
Main Methods:
- A literature search was conducted across 6 online databases.
- The search focused on English-language case reports of ECT in cardiac transplant patients.
Main Results:
- Six case reports were identified.
- All patients experienced hemodynamic fluctuations (blood pressure changes) during and after ECT.
- No serious cardiac complications were reported.
- Five patients showed improvement in depressive symptoms.
Conclusions:
- ECT may be a viable treatment option for severe depression in heart transplant recipients.
- The potential benefits of ECT must be carefully weighed against the risks.
- Limited case data suggest ECT can be relatively safe and effective in this population.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:30Electroconvulsive Therapy
69
Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), or shock therapy, remains a critical biomedical intervention for severe, treatment-resistant depression. While its origins can be traced back to Hippocrates' observations that malaria-induced convulsions alleviated mental illness, modern ECT has evolved significantly from its earlier, more primitive applications. First introduced in 1938 by Ugo Cerletti and his colleagues, ECT involves inducing controlled seizures using electrical currents. In its early...
69
01:22Heart Failure VI: Adjunct Therapies
16
Additional therapies for treating patients with heart failure (HF) may include procedural interventions, supplemental oxygen, the management of sleep disorders, and nutritional therapy.Procedural InterventionsImplantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator: For patients at risk of life-threatening arrhythmias due to severe left ventricular dysfunction, an Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator (ICD) can detect and terminate these arrhythmias, preventing sudden cardiac death and improving survival rates.
16
01:28Kidney Transplant I: Introduction
29
A kidney transplant is a surgical approach that involves replacing a non-functioning kidney with a healthy one from a donor. This procedure is often a treatment option for end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients. The method requires careful recipient selection, including evaluating various medical and psychosocial factors. These criteria vary between transplant centers but generally include assessments of the patient's overall health, adherence to medical recommendations, and lifestyle...
29
01:25ECG Interpretation of Arrhythmias II: Atrial, Junctional and Ventricular Arrhythmias
45
Arrhythmia is a condition characterized by an irregular heart rhythm, with ECG changes that differ based on its origin and nature. The types of arrhythmias discussed below include atrial, junctional, and ventricular arrhythmias.Atrial ArrhythmiasPremature Atrial Complexes (PACs): PACs are early atrial beats caused by stress, caffeine, alcohol, electrolyte imbalances, hypoxia, hyperthyroidism, or certain medications (e.g., bronchodilators and decongestants). The ECG shows early P waves with an...
45
01:29Cardiomyopathy V: Interprofessional Care
16
Managing cardiomyopathy involves addressing underlying or precipitating causes, treating heart failure with medications, and implementing dietary changes and a balanced exercise and rest regimen.Lifestyle ModificationsCardiomyopathy patients should adopt a low-sodium diet to reduce fluid retention and manage heart failure. A personalized exercise and rest plan helps maintain physical fitness without overstraining the heart. Avoiding alcohol and tobacco is essential to prevent further damage to...
16
01:26Heart Failure Drugs: Inotropic Agents
622
Positive inotropic agents are commonly used as the first line of treatment for heart failure. One such agent is digoxin, derived from the genus Digitalis, which has been known for centuries but effectively utilized since 1785. However, these cardiac glycosides can have potentially toxic effects due to their mechanism of action, which involves inhibiting Na+/K+-ATPase and increasing contractility. Digoxin is absorbed orally and distributed in various tissues, including the CNS. It has a long...
622