Ge Ifix Io Drivers. Key points • Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is a safe and effective treatment for severe medication-resistant depression. • ECT is often undertaken on remote sites in elderly patients with significant co-morbidity.

• A variety of adverse physiological and physical effects occur—cardiovascular and central nervous system responses are potentially most dangerous. • Anaesthesia must be of adequate depth without adversely affecting treatment efficacy. • Relative contraindications include raised intracranial pressure, recent cerebrovascular accident, untreated cerebral aneurysm, myocardial ischaemia or uncontrolled cardiac failure, unstable major fracture, and severe osteoporosis. Autodesk Autocad 2014 Serial Number And Product Key Free Download. Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is most commonly used to treat severe or medication-resistant depression, although it can also be beneficial in mania and catatonia. ECT induces a generalized, tonic–clonic epileptic seizure, yet despite being first described in 1938 the exact mechanism of action remains elusive. For almost 30 years it was performed without an anaesthetic. Now general anaesthesia is used, and although the number carried out has been decreasing thousands are still undertaken each year in the UK, often on remote sites.

This review focuses primarily on the physiological and physical responses to ECT and the rationale behind the choice of anaesthetic technique. Driver Asus A6000 Series Entertainment Notebook here. The physical and psychological needs of patients and obtaining consent for ECT are also considered. Administration of ECT During ECT, an electrical current is applied transcutaneously to the brain via two electrodes positioned either bilaterally or unilaterally (Fig. ). Bilateral ECT is used more commonly and is preferred when speed of clinical recovery takes priority.

Unilateral ECT is performed on the non-dominant hemisphere and has the advantage of minimizing cognitive adverse effects. The overall aim of both techniques is to induce a generalized seizure with characteristic EEG changes. The optimal seizure duration remains unclear. Too short (120 s) may reduce clinical efficacy but other research suggests that the amount of current delivered is more important than length of seizure. Typically, ECT is performed twice weekly until there is a lack of further improvement (on average, 3–4 weeks). Maintenance ECT thereafter is not generally recommended.