Headache prevention following accidental dural puncture in obstetric patients.

Abstract

STUDY OBJECTIVE:

To evaluate the efficacy of a prophylactic saline patch and a prophylactic blood patch in prevention of headache following accidental dural puncture in obstetric patients.

DESIGN:

Prospective, randomized, single-blind study on dural puncture headache occurrence and cessation.

SETTING:

Inpatient obstetric unit at a metropolitan medical center.

PATIENTS:

Seventy-four inpatients who underwent vaginal delivery or cesarean section following accidental dural puncture during administration of epidural anesthesia for labor and delivery.

INTERVENTIONS:

Group 1 (n = 24), the control group, received fluids and analgesics. Group 2 (n = 30) received prophylactic epidural saline (40 to 60 ml) through the epidural catheter following completion of the obstetric procedure. Group 3 (n = 20) received autologous blood (15 ml) via epidural catheter following completion of the obstetric procedure.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS:

In Group 1, 21 of 24 patients (87.5%) developed headaches, with conservative management. In Group 2, 20 of 30 patients (66.7%) developed headaches, and in Group 3, 1 of 20 patients (5%) developed a headache.

CONCLUSIONS:

The results of this study suggest that the administration of a prophylactic epidural blood patch is highly effective in the prevention of headaches following dural puncture, with headache frequency reduced from 87.5% to 5%.

• Authors: N S Trivedi, D Eddi, K Shevde
• Journal: Journal of clinical anesthesia (J Clin Anesth) 1993 Jan-Feb Vol. 5 Issue 1 Pg. 42-5 ISSN: 0952-8180 [Print] United States
• PMID: 8442966 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial)

Chemical References

• Analgesics
• Sodium Chloride

Topics

• Analgesics (therapeutic use)
• Anesthesia, Epidural (adverse effects)
• Anesthesia, Obstetrical (adverse effects)
• Blood Patch, Epidural
• Dura Mater (injuries)
• Female
• Fluid Therapy
• Headache (etiology, prevention & control)
• Humans
• Incidence
• Injections, Epidural
• Pregnancy
• Prospective Studies
• Single-Blind Method
• Sodium Chloride (therapeutic use)