Despite a high stimulus dose a tonic—clonic seizure may not be witnessed. This has been reported to be due to inattention by the attendants, absence of seizure activity or too much muscle relaxation (Pippard & Ellem, 1980; Reference FinkFink, 1983). While continuous electroencephalogram (EEG) monitoring has been proposed for quite some time (Fink & Johnson, 1982; Reference ChesenChesen, 1983) the Royal College of Psychiatrists still recommends the Hamilton cuff technique in its absence (Royal College of Psychiatrists, 1995). With this technique a sphygmomanometer cuff is applied to the contralateral side to the anaesthetic administration site and inflated to above systolic blood pressure, prior to administration of the muscle relaxant. In theory, this should prevent paralysis of distal limb musculature and allows the attendants to observe any seizure activity undiminished by muscle relaxants. We attempted to investigate whether there was any observable difference in observed seizure duration between a ‘cuffed’ and an ‘uncuffed’ limb.

Method

Nineteen patients receiving electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) within a six-month period gave consent to be included in the trial. Patients with peripheral vascular disease were excluded, as were patients who could not read English. Standard ECT procedures were followed. After administration of the anaesthetic agent, arm and leg cuffs, contralaterally placed, were inflated to 200 mm Hg and 220 mm Hg respectively. A specific leg cuff was used to prevent erroneously elevated sphygmomanometer readings. The muscle relaxant followed by the stimulus dose was then administered. Three observers noted the duration of the convulsion: one observed the face, one the arms and one the legs. Seizure duration was defined as the length of time between cessation of the stimulus and absence of tonic—clonic seizures.

Results

Thirty-nine convulsive episodes were observed. The mean seizure duration (MSD) for the head was 23.9 seconds (s.d.=8.8). In the upper limbs, the MSD was 24.2 (s.d.=8.95) seconds cuffed and 23.6 seconds uncuffed (s.d.=9.5). In the lower limbs, the MSD was 25.1 seconds cuffed (s.d.=8.6) and 25.9 seconds (s.d.=8.2) uncuffed. Data were analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences v7.5 for Windows. A two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), the appropriate test for simultaneous continuous observations, found no significant difference between upper and lower limbs, nor between cuffed and uncuffed limbs in terms of the MSD. In no case did a seizure occur in a cuffed limb and not in the uncuffed limb.

Comments

From these results it appears that there is little observable difference between a cuffed and an uncuffed limb, even if lower limbs and specialist tourniquets are used. Several authors have suggested that there is little difference in seizure duration observed with EEG monitoring and the Hamilton ‘cuff’ method (Reference Lambert and PettyLambert & Petty, 1994). Our data suggests that there is no difference between a cuffed limb and an uncuffed limb. We suggest that the use of the Hamilton cuff method to ‘observe’ absent seizures should cease; this merely delays addressing the real cause of ‘absent’ seizures and may involve anaesthesia without therapeutic effect. This recommendation should be dropped from the Royal College of Psychiatrists (1995) handbook on ECT. Given that as long ago as 1966 the literature suggested the adoption of continuous EEG monitoring, and that the Hamilton cuff method has been shown to be ineffective, the adoption of EEG monitoring as standard needs to be seriously considered.