title: Electroconvulsive therapy as a treatment for protracted refractory delirium in the intensive care unit--five cases and a review.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Delirium in the intensive care unit (ICU) is conventionally treated pharmacologically but can progress into a protracted state refractory to medical treatment--a potentially life-threatening condition in itself.
  
  
  METHODS
  We treated 5 cases of severe protracted delirium in our ICU with electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) after failure of conventional medical therapy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The delirious state of long standing agitation, anxiety, and discomfort was controlled in all patients. Electroconvulsive therapy was effective in controlling delirium in 4 patients. The last patient became calm, relieved of stress, and able to cooperate with the ventilator but remained in a state of posttraumatic amnesia after a head trauma.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although controversial, ECT is nevertheless recognized as an efficient and safe treatment for various psychiatric illnesses including delirium. Considering the significantly increased mortality and severe cognitive decline associated with delirium in the ICU, we find ECT to be a valuable treatment option for this vulnerable patient population. It can be considered when agitation cannot be controlled with medical treatment, when agitation and delirium make weaning impossible, or prolonged deep sedation the only alternative.
authors: Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care, Glostrup University Hospital of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark. Electronic address: rikkemaltenielsen@gmail.com.
authors: R M
authors: RM
authors: Nielsen
authors: Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care, Glostrup University Hospital of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors: K S
authors: KS
authors: Olsen
authors: Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care, Glostrup University Hospital of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors: A Oe
authors: AO
authors: Lauritsen
authors: Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care, Glostrup University Hospital of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors: H C
authors: HC
authors: Boesen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D054810:Deep Sedation / Q000379:methods; D003693:Delirium / Q000628:therapy*; D004565:Electroconvulsive Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011595:Psychomotor Agitation / Q000628:therapy
chemical_list: D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives
keywords: Critical illness; Delirium; Electroconvulsive therapy