Electroconvulsive therapy in patients with aortic stenosis.

Aortic stenosis confers an increased risk of complications during procedures with general anesthesia. There are no previously reported cases of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) in patients with this valvular defect. Two cases are described of patients with moderate to severe aortic stenosis confirmed by echocardiography in whom courses of ECT resulted in clinical improvement without untoward cardiac complications. It is concluded that ECT can be safely given to patients with aortic stenosis in whom left ventricular function is normal.