The Effects of Electro-Convulsive Therapy on Patients with Essential Hypertension

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Abstract
There is no doubt that electro-convulsive treatment is a safe treatment, perhaps very safe, yet from time to time reports of a fatality appear in the literature. When death occurs, most authorities agree that it is the cardiovascular system that fails. When there has been no suggestion of respiratory mismanagement, and death has been unrelated to the actual fit, vagal over-activity has received attention as a cause of death. It has been said that almost the only physical contraindication to treatment is a recent coronary thrombosis. Whatever the truth of this may be, uncertainty exists as to the “buffetings” an ischaemic myocardium or a diseased arterial system will tolerate.