How do you prepare a patient for ECT?

Because electroconvulsive therapy is performed under general anesthesia, you should not eat, drink, or smoke after midnight on the days of your treatments. Do not drink alcohol or use any illegal drugs over the course of the treatment. On the day of your procedure, do not wear jewelry or contact lenses.

What not to do after ECT?

Because of the short-lived side effects on your memory, it is important that you postpone any major decisions until a week or two after the ECT course. It is also important that you do not drive during your course of ECT.

Which position is provided to the patient after giving ECT?

Side-lying position after ECT.

What should you assess first after ECT?

Assess him for nausea, vomiting, and headaches, which are common after ECT, and administer antiemetics and analgesics as ordered. Assess his vascular access device. Administer medications such as benzodiazepines as ordered for agitation.

What should the nurse do before electroconvulsive therapy?

Withhold food and fluids for 6 to 8 hours before treatment. Remove dentures, glasses, contact lenses, hearing aids, hair pins and etc. Have client void before the treatment.

How do you care for patients after ECT?

Post-ECT Care

Transfer the patient from recovery room . record vital signs every 15 min for 30 min and once in every 30 min till the patient recover to the normal stage.

What to expect after ECT treatment?

On the days of an ECT treatment, some people experience nausea, headache, jaw pain or muscle ache. These generally can be treated with medications. Medical complications. As with any type of medical procedure, especially one that involves anesthesia, there are risks of medical complications.

What is the most common side effect of ECT?

The most common side effects of ECT on the day of treatment include nausea, headache, fatigue, confusion, and slight memory loss, which may last minutes to hours.

What should the nurse do after ECT?

Post treatment nursing care
Once the client is awake, talk to the client and check the vital signs. Give frequent orientation and reassurance to allay confusion. Check the gag reflex before giving client fluids, medications or breakfast.

Which side effects are most common after ECT treatment?

What is the nurses role in ECT therapy?

The nurse serves as a liaison between the psychiatry and anesthesia departments and the outpatient and ECT treatment team. This facilitates obtaining necessary medical evaluations or preparations prior to treatments. This may involve coordinating blood tests, EKGs, x-rays, or medical consultations.

What is maintenance ECT?

What Is Acute & Maintenance ECT? An acute series of ECT involves a patient receiving ECT three times a week for 6 to 12 treatments for treatment-resistant depression or other conditions that respond to ECT. Maintenance ECT is for patients who cannot remain well after an acute course of ECT.

What are the negative side effects of ECT?

We discuss potential adverse effects (AEs) associated with ECT and strategies for their prevention and management. Common acute AEs include headache, nausea, myalgia, and confusion; these are self-limiting and are managed symptomatically.

What are 3 common side effects of ECT?

What are the responsibilities during ECT?

Nursing Care During the Procedure
Place a blood pressure cuff on one of the client’s arms. As the intravenous line is inserted and EEC and ECG electrodes are attached, give a brief explanation to the client. Put on the pulse oximeter to the client’s finger. Monitor blood pressure throughout the threatement.

What happens after electric shock therapy?

The most common side effects of ECT on the day of treatment include nausea, headache, fatigue, confusion, and slight memory loss, which may last minutes to hours. These risks must be balanced with the consequences of ineffectively treated severe psychiatric disorders.

What is the major side effect of ECT?

Can you drive after ECT?

Can Patients Drive After ECT? Patients are not allowed to drive during the entire ECT course and for 2 weeks after the last treatment in an acute series of ECT. An acute series is usually 3 treatments a week for 6 to 12 treatments. Patients who receive maintenance ECT can drive except on the day of ECT.

Is memory loss from ECT permanent?

Retrograde amnesia usually improves during the first few months after ECT. Nonetheless, for many patients, recovery is incomplete, with permanent amnesia for events that occurred close in time to the treatment.

Can ECT change your personality?

Some people experience longer term memory loss, and difficulty making new memories. But some people do say after ECT they experience brain damage, a change in their personality, a loss of creativity, a lack of energy or drive, or lack of emotions.

Which famous people have had ECT?

Judy Garland, Singer, dancer, actress. Julie Goodyear, English actress from Coronation Street. Peter Green, English blues guitarist, founding member of Fleetwood Mac. Carmen Miranda, Luso-Brazilian Singer, dancer, actress.

Does ECT erase memories?

One of the known side-effects of ECT is memory loss. According to the Royal College of Psychiatrists, that memory loss is normally temporary, but some patients report severe and long-lasting memory losses after ECT.

How much memory do you lose with ECT?

Safety: among 7 studies that reported on memory loss, the rate of persistent or permanent memory loss after ECT ranged from 29% to 55%.

Does ECT change your personality?

Does ECT affect intelligence?

However, former patients have publicly testified that ECT can result in a very significant (>30 point) permanent decrement in IQ score (Food and Drug Administration, 1982; Andre, 2001; Cott, 2005: p. 5) and have documented the claims by extensive neuropsychological evaluation.