Thermal burns in electroconvulsive therapy

Abstract

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is effective for mood disorders and schizophrenia. Thermal burns, while rare, are potentially sight and life threatening. The three elements necessary for a fire are often in close proximity during a session: an oxidiser (oxygen), an ignition source (faulty electrodes, poor contact with skin producing a spark) and fuel (hair, residual alcohol cleanser). This case report describes one such incident when a patient sustained a burn during ECT, with poor contact of electrode pad with skin, high impedance and an oxygen-rich environment possibly contributing. Given that ECT is conducted relatively frequently (once every 2–3 days) in a usual regimen, we make recommendations for safe application of electrode pads for temporal placement ECT.