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Case Reports
. 2023 Mar 1;39(1):46-52.
doi: 10.1097/YCT.0000000000000851. Epub 2022 Apr 26.

Electroconvulsive Therapy in Patients With Cardiac Implantable Electronic Devices: A Case Report and Systematic Review of Published Cases

Abhiram Narasimhan Purohith  1 , Sivapriya Vaidyanathan  1 , Suma T Udupa  1 , Ravindra N Munoli  1 , Sheena Agarwal  1 , Mukund A Prabhu  2 , Samir Kumar Praharaj  1
Affiliations
Case Reports

Electroconvulsive Therapy in Patients With Cardiac Implantable Electronic Devices: A Case Report and Systematic Review of Published Cases

Abhiram Narasimhan Purohith et al. J ECT. .

Abstract

Objective: The aims of the study were to report the case of a 54-year-old man with recurrent depressive disorder with multiple medical comorbidities having a dual-chamber pacemaker, treated successfully with 11 sessions of electroconvulsive therapy, and to conduct a systematic review of published cases documenting the use of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) in patients with cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs) for treating major psychiatric disorders.

Methods: We searched electronic databases (MEDLINE, PubMed, Google Scholar, Embase, Cochrane Library, PsycINFO, and Crossref) and included studies reporting on the use of electroconvulsive therapy in patients with CIEDs.

Results: Thirty-five publications across 53 years (1967-2021) reported on 76 patients (including current report) who received a pooled total of 979 modified ECT sessions. The most common adverse events were premature ventricular contraction and hypertension. There have been no reports of serious adverse effects that necessitated the cessation of ECT.

Conclusions: Electroconvulsive therapy is a safe and efficacious treatment for major psychiatric disorders, and the presence of CIEDs should not delay or deter the use of ECT in these patients.

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Conflict of interest statement

A.P.N. and S.K.P. are receiving grant from the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Wellcome Trust India Alliance (IA/CRC/19/1/610005). The other authors have no conflicts of interest or financial disclosures to report.

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