New Onset Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation After Electroconvulsive Therapy

Overview

Journal Cureus

Specialty Biomedical Engineering

Date 2021 Jan 4

PMID 33391948

Citations 2

Authors

Michael R Hower

Chong Yang

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is a safe treatment for various psychiatric disorders. During an ECT treatment, an electrical stimulus produces a transient sympathetic response leading to changes in the cardiac rate and rhythm. Rarely, ECT treatment may precipitate atrial fibrillation (AF). In this case report, we present a 70-year-old man with schizoaffective disorder who developed paroxysmal AF after his 38 ECT treatment. We review his risk factors for AF and propose a possible mechanism of its development. We also discuss potential treatment options to safely resume ECT treatments.

Citing Articles

Atrial fibrillation, electroconvulsive therapy, stroke risk, and anticoagulation.

Kapadia M, Jagadish P, Hutchinson M, Lee H Egypt Heart J. 2023; 75(1):94.

PMID: 38010438 PMC: 10682349. DOI: 10.1186/s43044-023-00409-7.

Electroconvulsive Therapy-Induced Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation in Healthy Young Male.

Olsen B, Trent J, Inman B Cureus. 2023; 14(11):e31989.

PMID: 36589202 PMC: 9797374. DOI: 10.7759/cureus.31989.

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