Intracranial hypotension headache after uncomplicated caudal epidural injection.

Abstract

A caudal epidural injection was performed on a middle-aged woman for pain in her right foot. Although the procedure was uncomplicated and a good epidurogram was obtained, the patient went on to develop an orthostatic headache with generalised weakness and syncopal episodes that were treated successfully by epidural blood patching. We describe the aetiology, presentation and treatment of spontaneous intracranial hypotension and review the similarities with our patient's clinical presentation. We hypothesise as to how our intervention may have resulted in a dural tear.

• Authors: R Thomas, S Thanthulage
• Journal: Anaesthesia (Anaesthesia) Vol. 67 Issue 4 Pg. 416-9 (Apr 2012) ISSN: 1365-2044 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 22288890 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)
• Copyright: Anaesthesia © 2012 The Association of Anaesthetists of Great Britain and Ireland.

Topics

• Anesthesia, Caudal (adverse effects)
• Blood Patch, Epidural (methods)
• Female
• Headache (etiology, therapy)
• Humans
• Injections, Epidural
• Intracranial Hypotension (complications, therapy)
• Middle Aged
• Tomography, X-Ray Computed
• Treatment Outcome