Incidence of asystole in electroconvulsive therapy in elderly patients.
The authors prospectively investigated the incidence of asystole (absence of heartbeat for 5 seconds) in elderly patients receiving electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) at a university-based geriatric psychiatry unit. In all, 65.8% of patients experienced asystole at some time during their course of ECT. Those who experienced asystole were significantly younger (average age, 72.2) than those without asystole (average age, 77.0; P = 0.026) and were also less likely to have cardiac rhythm disturbances on electrocardiogram (P = 0.024). Medical history, history of cardiac disease, electrode placement, energy level, and number of ECT treatments did not predict asystole. Asystole is a common side effect of ECT in elderly patients. It was not associated with any untoward outcome. The fact that "old-old" patients and those with cardiac disease are less likely to experience asystole than younger, healthier patients is reassuring to practitioners of ECT.
Burd
J
J
Karl Menniger School of Psychiatry, Topeka, KS, USA.
Kettl
P
P
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000777:Anesthetics / Q000009:adverse effects; D002317:Cardiovascular Agents / Q000009:adverse effects; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D004565:Electroconvulsive Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005852:Geriatric Psychiatry / Q000379:methods; D006323:Heart Arrest / Q000209:etiology*; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019964:Mood Disorders / Q000628:therapy*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000777:Anesthetics; D002317:Cardiovascular Agents