title: Electroconvulsive therapy after eye surgery.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is known to increase intraocular pressure (IOP). Data on the safety of ECT in patients after eye surgery remain scarce, and data on the influence of modern anesthetic drugs on IOP during an ECT procedure are lacking.
  
  
  METHODS
  We describe the case of a 49-year old woman, treated with ECT for depression, 13 days after phacoemulsification and intraocular lens implantation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Baseline IOP (15 mm Hg OD/14 mm Hg OS) dropped after administration of propofol (8 mm Hg OD/10 mm Hg OS) and then increased after succinylcholine (19 mm Hg OD/OS) to further increase during the seizure (34 mm Hg OD/OS not available). Our patient had 9 treatments, until remission, without any complication.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Recent cataract surgery should not be seen as a contraindication to ECT. Advances in the technique of cataract surgery have improved wound healing, and the transient IOP increase is, probably, of limited importance. Further study on the influence of contemporary anesthesia regimens on IOP is warranted.
authors.affiliation: Department of Mood Disorders, University Psychiatric Center-Catholic University Leuven, Kortenberg, Belgium. pascal.sienaert@uc-kortenberg.be
authors.forename: Pascal A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Sienaert
authors.forename: Carolien
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vanholst
mesh_terms: D002387:Cataract Extraction; D000075202:Contraindications; D004565:Electroconvulsive Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D019654:Lens Implantation, Intraocular; D008875:Middle Aged; D013508:Ophthalmologic Surgical Procedures; D018918:Phacoemulsification; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014792:Visual Acuity