Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) and Electromyography (EMG): A Must in Clinical Practice
December 12, 2025
White paper by Peter Boelhouwers, Head of Anesthesia, Zuger Kantonsspital, Switzerland
Clinical Experience from a Cantonal Hospital in Switzerland
Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) has been a part of clinical practice at Zug Cantonal Hospital for over 13 years. First introduced in 1938 by Ugo Cerletti and Lucio Bini in Italy, ECT has since become one of the most thoroughly researched and validated procedures in psychiatry.
In this article, we will explore how the use of an Electromyography-based NMT monitor such as the TetraGraph® system can be used to accurately monitor the level of neuromuscular block and recovery during ECT.
In Zug, ECT is performed within a general hospital setting—rather than a psychiatric clinic—which allows for optimal medical oversight. Usually, such therapies are offered in psychiatric clinics. While this necessitates transporting psychiatric patients from the psychiatric clinic to the hospital, it also provides several distinct advantages:
- Immediate access to optimal clinical care and intensive care facilities if needed
- Multiple psychiatric clinics can treat their inpatient and outpatient patients on the same day
- Comprehensive perioperative and post-treatment support from an experienced anesthesia and recovery team
Read more in the complete white paper!
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