Abstract
A medication-refractory catatonic patient developed several medical complications during treatment, the most serious of which were bilateral deep leg vein thrombosis with multiple pulmonary emboli. After placement of an inferior vena cava (Greenfield) filter to prevent further emboli, the patient completed a course of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) with marked psychiatric improvement. This case demonstrates the safety of ECT given 1 week after multiple pulmonary embolism. It also shows that ECT does not need to be delayed after catheter placement of a Greenfield filter. Furthermore, this case emphasizes the importance in managing a catatonic patient's susceptibility to thromboembolism while simultaneously treating the psychiatric illness.