Table 2 Changes to ECT practice adopted by the surveyed treatment centres during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic
% of ECT Centres (95% CI*) | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ontario | Quebec | Western Canada | Atlantic Canada | |||||||
Item | “Yes” | “No” | “Yes” | “No” | “Yes” | “No” | “Yes” | “No” | ||
ECT practice was affected by | ||||||||||
Redeployment of professionals | 52 (33–70) | 48 (30–67) | 38 (18–64) | 62 (38–82) | 40 (17–69) | 60 (31–83) | 50 (19–81) | 50 (19–81) | ||
Availability of PPE | 46 (28–65) | 54 (35–72) | 20 (7–45) | 80 (55–93) | 50 (25–75) | 50 (25–75) | 60 (23–88) | 40 (12–77) | ||
Need to facilitate social distancing | 74 (55–87) | 26 (13–45) | 50 (28–72) | 50 (28–72) | 42 (19–68) | 58 (32–81) | 80 (38–96) | 20 (4–62) | ||
ECT is considered an AGMP† | 77 (58–89) | 23 (11–42) | 80 (55–93) | 20 (7–45) | 82 (52–95) | 18 (5–48) | 75 (30–95) | 25 (5–70) | ||
COVID-19 measures required a change to the | ||||||||||
ECT delivery room | 72 (49–88) | 28 (13–51) | 73 (43–90) | 27 (10–57) | 72 (43–90) | 27 (10–57) | 80 (38–96) | 20 (4–62) | ||
Modifications to existing suite | 22 (9–45) | 55 (28–79) | 36 (15–65) | 0 (0–43) | ||||||
Negative pressure room | 22 (9–45) | 0 (0–26) | 0 (0–26) | 60 (23–88) | ||||||
Operating room/surgical suite | 22 (9–45) | 18 (5–48) | 36 (15–65) | 20 (4–62) | ||||||
Postanesthesia care unit | 6 (1–26) | 0 (0–26) | 0 (0–26) | 0 (0–43) | ||||||
Class of administered primary anesthetics | 12.5 (4–36) | 87.5 (64–97) | 0 (0–30) | 100 (70–100) | 0 (0–26) | 100 (74–100) | 0 (0–43) | 100 (57–100) | ||
Dosage of administered primary anesthetics | 13 (4–38) | 87 (62–96) | 0 (0–35) | 100 (65–100) | 0 (0–28) | 100 (72–100) | 0 (0–43) | 100 (57–100) | ||
ECT technique‡ | 82 (59–94) | 18 (6–41) | 100 (68–100) | 0 (0–32) | 82 (52–95) | 18 (5–48) | 100 (57–100) | 0 (0–43) | ||
Less seizure threshold titration sessions | 18 (6–41) | 0 (0–32) | 9 (2–38) | 0 (0–43) | ||||||
Early switch to bilateral electrode placement | 12 (3–34) | 0 (0–32) | 9 (2–38) | 0 (0–43) | ||||||
Switch to the “half-age” method for dosing | 6 (1–27) | 0 (0–32) | 9 (2–38) | 0 (0–43) | ||||||
Airway management procedure‡ | 82 (59–94) | 18 (6–41) | 44 (19–73) | 56 (27–81) | 100 (72–100) | 0 (28–100) | 80 (38–96) | 20 (4–62) | ||
Eliminating BVM ventilation | 6 (1–27) | 11 (2–44) | 0 (28–100) | 0 (0–43) | ||||||
Minimizing BVM ventilation | 59 (36–78) | 22 (6–55) | 100 (72–100) | 80 (38–96) | ||||||
Adding HEPA | 29 (13–53) | 0 (0–30) | 10 (2–40) | 0 (0–43) | ||||||
Eliminating intubation | 6 (1–27) | 0 (0–30) | 0 (28–100) | 0 (0–43) | ||||||
Minimizing intubation | 12 (3–34) | 0 (0–30) | 0 (28–100) | 20 (4–62) | ||||||
Using laryngeal mask | 6 (1–27) | 11 (2–44) | 0 (28–100) | 0 (0–43) | ||||||
Preoxygenating longer and/or by mask | 18 (6–41) | 0 (0–30) | 0 (28–100) | 0 (0–43) | ||||||