Posted by Toby on July 6, 1999, at 11:26:45
In reply to Re: Toby and Others...curious about ect, posted by s on July 5, 1999, at 19:44:50
ECT can be done without anesthesia, but I would refer you to the horror stories of the 1950's for what that experience would be like. The muscle relaxant paralyzes ALL the voluntary muscles in the body including the lungs so that you have to have oxygen given and the lungs are inflated manually by the anestehsiologist. If you were to have the muscle relaxant without the anesthesia, you would be paralyzed yet awake, and experience the jolt of electricity before losing consciousness with the seizure. Very unappealing.
ECT is done on an inpatient basis for the initial round because there are so many treatments and the memory problems are strongest then. Once there has been a response, if the decision is made to continue maintenance treatments, those are generally done once a month or so and they are done on an outpatient basis.
poster:Toby
thread:2360
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/19990628/msgs/8337.html