title: Safety of electroconvulsive therapy in patients receiving long-term warfarin therapy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the safety of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) in patients receiving long-term warfarin therapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective data were reviewed for 35 consecutively hospitalized patients who received long-term warfarin therapy and ECT at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn, between January 1, 1994, and December 31, 2001.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 300 ECT treatments were administered to the 35 patients. Of 284 ECT treatments for which data were available, no ECT-related complications due to anticoagulation occurred despite increases in blood pressure and pulse rate. One patient experienced ventricular tachycardia, resulting in transfer to a cardiology service for temporary monitoring. No other serious ECT-related adverse effects were noted. The rate of intertreatment delirium was similar to that reported in other studies.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Electroconvulsive therapy in patients receiving long-term warfarin therapy appears to be safe. Although no major adverse effects were identified in our case series, additional prospective evaluation is warranted.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, Minn 55905, USA.
authors.forename: Vinay
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Mehta
authors.forename: Paul S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Mueller
authors.forename: Heydy L
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Gonzalez-Arriaza
authors.forename: V Shane
authors.initials: VS
authors.lastname: Pankratz
authors.forename: Teresa A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Rummans
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004565:Electroconvulsive Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019934:International Normalized Ratio; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012449:Safety; D014859:Warfarin / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants; D014859:Warfarin