IMMEDIATE CIRCULATORY AND RESPIRATORY EFFECTS OF CONVULSIVE SHOCK

Abstract

Blood pressure, pulse and respiration were studied in patients receiving convulsive shock therapy. Seven hundred and ninety eight individual shocks were studied on an unstated number of patients. Individuals received curare, and then either metrazol or electroshock. Curare alone usually had no effect on pulse or blood pressure, the latter being counteracted by emotional involvement. Respiratory effects of curare consisted of stridor or weakness of respiratory muscles, or combinations of these. In convulsive shock, the systolic pressure usually reached a peak during the seizure, and then fell, the pulse reacting similarly. Respiration was interfered with due to weakness, stridor, and salivation. There was variability in the circulatory and respiratory effects in different patients, and in the same patient in different treatments.