What precisely happens during such a treatment ?
In the theatre your shoes are removed and you’re helped onto a special mobile-bed. A pulse-oximeter is clipped on to one index finger. Electrodes are attached to the chest to ensure constant ECG monitoring of the heart throughout the treatment pro-cedure. At the same time special self-adhesive elctrodes are placed on either side of the forehead to measure and observe brain wave activity through all phases of the treatment. The oximeter measures the oxygen saturation of the tissues continuously i.e. before,during and after application of the stimulus. A 100% oxygen is adminis- tered through a positive-pressure mask and you will be asked to breathe into it. The anaesthetist then injects intravenously a short-acting anaesthetic which induces sleep for plus or minus 3 minutes. At a set interval plus or minus 30 seconds thereafter a muscle-relaxant is given and 100% oxygen is administered by positive pressure at a rate of 20 – 30 respirations per minute, and continued until return of sponta
