Nanotherapeutics for Alleviating Anesthesia-Associated Complications

Current management of anesthesia-associated complications falls short in terms of both efficacy and safety. Nanomaterials with versatile properties and unique nano-bio interactions hold substantial promise as therapeutics for addressing these complications. This review conducts a thorough examination of the existing nanotherapeutics and highlights the strategies for developing prospective nanomedicines to mitigate anesthetics-related toxicity. Initially, general, regional, and local anesthesia along with the commonly used anesthetics and related prevalent side effects are introduced. Furthermore, employing nanotechnology to prevent and alleviate the complications of anesthetics is systematically demonstrated from three aspects, that is, developing 1) safe nano-formulization for anesthetics; 2) nano-antidotes to sequester overdosed anesthetics and alter their pharmacokinetics; 3) nanomedicines with pharmacodynamic activities to treat anesthetics toxicity. Finally, the prospects and challenges facing the clinical translation of nanotherapeutics for anesthesia-related complications are discussed. This work provides a comprehensive roadmap for developing effective nanotherapeutics to prevent and mitigate anesthesia-associated toxicity, which can potentially revolutionize the management of anesthesia complications.

Ultrasound-Guided Suprazygomatic Sphenopalatine Ganglion Block for Postdural Puncture Headache Resistant to Epidural Blood Patch: A Case Report

Even though epidural blood patch (EBP) is thought to be the definitive treatment for severe cases of postdural puncture headache (PDPH), it may be accompanied by complications like adhesion arachnoiditis, and cauda equina syndrome, especially if the injection is repeated. The sphenopalatine ganglion (SPG) block is a new minimally invasive technique for the treatment of PDPH, with variable results according to the clinical situation and deployed approach. We describe a case of PDPH resistant to EBP in which we successfully managed symptoms using ultrasound-guided suprazygomatic SPG block to deliver local anesthetic directly into pterygopalatine fossa, thus avoiding a second EBP.

Management of Post-Dural Puncture Headaches in Pediatric Patients with Epidural Blood or Saline Patch: An Educational Focused Review

Post-dural puncture headache (PDPH) is a common adverse outcome following puncture of the dura. It can occur after inadvertent dural puncture during epidural catheter placement or following diagnostic or therapeutic LP. The incidence of PDPH in pediatric patients has been estimated at 1-15% depending on patient factors (age, gender, body mass index) and needle factors (size and needle bevel/point type). The larger the needle gauge, the higher the incidence of PDPH. Various options have been proposed to treat PDPH including observation, bed rest, hydration, caffeine, and epidural blood/saline patch. The current manuscript provides a review of the use of epidural blood/saline patch in pediatric-aged patients with PDPH.

Treatment and Prevention of Post-dural Puncture Headaches: A Systematic Review

Post-dural puncture headache (PDPH) is occasionally an inevitable side effect of neuraxial anesthesia, which can happen after spinal anesthesia or if an accidental dural puncture (ADP) happens during epidural anesthesia. The treatment and prevention options for PDPH differ widely from one institution to another. The management of PDPH is heterogeneous in many institutions because of the absence of clear guidelines and protocols for the management of PDPH. This study aimed to summarize all articles published during the past decade that discussed the treatment or prevention of PDPH. From 2013 to 2023, 345 publications were filtered for all treatment and prevention approaches used for PDPH patients. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) 2020 guidelines were followed for conducting this systematic review, and 38 articles were included for analysis and review. Existing data come from small randomized clinical trials and retrospective or prospective cohort studies. This review supports the effect of oral pregabalin and intravenous aminophylline in both treatment and prevention. Intravenous mannitol, intravenous hydrocortisone, triple prophylactic regimen, and neostigmine plus atropine combination showed effective and beneficial outcomes. On the other hand, neither neuraxial morphine nor epidural dexamethasone showed promising results. Consequently, the use of neuraxial morphine or epidural dexamethasone for the prevention of PDPH remains questionable. Regarding the posture of the patient and its consequences on the incidence of the headache, lateral decubitus is better than a sitting position, and a prone position is better than a supine position. Smaller non-cutting needles play a role in avoiding PDPH. Minimally invasive nerve blocks, including sphenopalatine ganglion or greater occipital nerves, are satisfyingly effective. Epidural blood patches remain the more invasive but the gold standard and ultimate solution in patients resisting medical therapy. This study highlights the need for larger research to define the best approach to prevent and treat PDPH.

Complications of unintentional dural puncture during labour epidural analgesia: a 10-year retrospective observational study

INTRODUCTION

Unintentional dural puncture (UDP) occurs in 0.5-1.5% of labour epidural analgesia cases. To date, little is known about evidence of UDP-related complications. This work aimed to assess the incidence of intrapartum and postpartum complications in parturients who experienced UDP.

METHODS

This is a 10-year retrospective observational study on parturients admitted to our centre who presented UDP. Data collection gathered UDP-related complications during labour and postpartum. All women who displayed UDP received medical therapy and bed rest. An epidural blood patch (EBP) was not used in this population. Once asymptomatic, patients were discharged from the hospital.

RESULTS

Out of 7718 neuraxial analgesia cases, 97 cases of UDP occurred (1.25%). During labour, complications appeared in a small percentage of analgesia procedures performed, including total spinal anaesthesia (1.0%), extended motor block (3%), hypotension (4.1%), abnormal foetal heart rate (2%), inadequate analgesia (14.4%), and general anaesthesia following neuraxial anaesthesia failure (33.3% of emergency caesarean sections). During the postpartum period, 53.6% of parturients exhibited a postdural puncture headache, 13.4% showed neurological symptoms, and 14.4% required neurological consultation and neuroimaging. No patient developed subdural hematoma or cerebral venous sinus thrombosis; one woman presented posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome associated with eclampsia. Overall, 82.5% of women experienced an extension of hospital stay.

CONCLUSION

Major complications occurred in a small percentage of patients during labour. However, since they represent high-risk maternal and neonatal health events, a dedicated anaesthesiologist and a trained obstetric team are essential. No major neurological complications were registered postpartum, and EBP was not performed. Nevertheless, all patients with UDP were carefully monitored and treated until complete recovery before discharge, leading to an extension of their hospitalization.

The Efficacy of Dural Puncture Epidural Performed by 27-gauge Whitacre Needle in Labour Epidural Analgesia: Randomized Single-Blinded Controlled Study

Objective

Dural puncture epidural technique is refinement of standard epidural technique. Its goal is to overcome drawbacks of standard epidural. We assessed whether dural puncture epidural technique performed by 27-gauge spinal needle would provide higher quality of labour epidural analgesia by using 10 mL epidural bolus of 0.125% bupivacaine. Additionally, the impact of dural puncture epidural on epidural analgesia onset, course of labour and occurrence of maternal side effects was examined.

Methods

We designed prospective, randomized, single-blind study. A total of 76 healthy nulliparous parturients were randomly allocated to dural puncture or standard epidural group. After identification of epidural space, spinal Whitacre needle was used for dural puncture. Intrathecal drug administration was omitted at that point. Both groups received a bolus of local anaesthetic mixture, followed by a continuous infusion of diluted local anaesthetic via epidural catheter. Pain was assessed by numeric pain rating scale. The number of top-ups and mode of delivery were recorded in both groups.

Results

After 10 minutes, there was a statistically significant difference in numeric pain rating scale ≤3 reported (P=0.028), with 97.4% subjects in dural puncture epidural group achieving adequate analgesia after 10 minutes. There was no statistically significant difference in the number of additional boluses, time to delivery, Bromage scale achieved or maternal outcomes between groups.

Conclusion

Dural puncture epidural technique appears to be effective in providing faster onset of epidural analgesia. However, the need for additional boluses remains unchanged. It can be safely used in obstetrics, without deleterious effect on the course of labour.

Evidence-based clinical practice guidelines on postdural puncture headache: a consensus report from a multisociety international working group

INTRODUCTION

Postdural puncture headache (PDPH) can follow unintentional dural puncture during epidural techniques or intentional dural puncture during neuraxial procedures such as a lumbar puncture or spinal anesthesia. Evidence-based guidance on the prevention, diagnosis or management of this condition is, however, currently lacking. This multisociety guidance aims to fill this void and provide practitioners with comprehensive information and patient-centric recommendations to prevent, diagnose and manage patients with PDPH.

METHODS

Based on input from committee members and stakeholders, the committee cochairs developed 10 review questions deemed important for the prevention, diagnosis and management of PDPH. A literature search for each question was performed in MEDLINE (Ovid) on 2 March 2022. The results from each search were imported into separate Covidence projects for deduplication and screening, followed by data extraction. Additional relevant clinical trials, systematic reviews and research studies published through March 2022 were also considered for the development of guidelines and shared with contributors. Each group submitted a structured narrative review along with recommendations graded according to the US Preventative Services Task Force grading of evidence. The interim draft was shared electronically, with each collaborator requested to vote anonymously on each recommendation using two rounds of a modified Delphi approach.

RESULTS

Based on contemporary evidence and consensus, the multidisciplinary panel generated 50 recommendations to provide guidance regarding risk factors, prevention, diagnosis and management of PDPH, along with their strength and certainty of evidence. After two rounds of voting, we achieved a high level of consensus for all statements and recommendations. Several recommendations had moderate-to-low certainty of evidence.

CONCLUSIONS

These clinical practice guidelines for PDPH provide a framework to improve identification, evaluation and delivery of evidence-based care by physicians performing neuraxial procedures to improve the quality of care and align with patients' interests. Uncertainty remains regarding best practice for the majority of management approaches for PDPH due to the paucity of evidence. Additionally, opportunities for future research are identified.

The effect of postdural puncture headache on pre-existing and new-onset headaches after cesarean section: A retrospective study

Background

Obstetric patients are at higher risk of postdural puncture headache (PDPH) than other age- and sex-matched individuals. The debate over the long-term effects of PDPH continues. In this study, we aimed to assess the development of new-onset headaches or worsening of pre-existing chronic headaches in patients who underwent cesarean section under spinal anesthesia and developed PDPH.

Methods

Forty patients who developed PDPH (Group P) after cesarean section surgery (post-cesarean section–PCS), 80 patients who underwent cesarean section under spinal anesthesia (Group S), and 80 patients who underwent cesarean section under general anesthesia (Group G) were evaluated in the study. Chronic headache and other related symptoms that were present before pregnancy (pre-gestational–PG) and within 12 months after cesarean section were assessed.

Results

Eight of the 40 patients in Group P had a new-onset chronic headache after cesarean surgery, which was significantly higher than the rates in the other groups (p = 0.001). Of the patients whose pre-existing headache worsened during the PCS period, seven were in Group P, and four were in Group S (p = 0.020), while none was in Group G. According to the multiple logistic regression analysis, the risk of worsening headache increased by 1.51-fold for every 1 unit increase in the PG Numerical Rating Scale (NRS).

Conclusion

In conclusion, patients who develop PDPH appear to be at higher risk of developing new-onset headaches or worsening of pre-existing headaches compared with those who do not. We believe that keeping a headache diary for patients who will undergo dural puncture for whatever purpose, and also long-term follow-up of these patients for the risk of chronic headaches may increase awareness of this issue.

Pressure monitoring devices may undetect epidural space: a report on the use of Compuflo® system for epidural injection

Lumbar epidural infiltration (EI) is a feasible procedure performed in pain therapy. Even though epidural analgesia is widely applied, it remains a blind technique, based on the operator's hand sensations, and it is associated with significant failure rate and several potential complications. Compuflo® (Compuflo, Milestone Scientific, Livingston, NJ) is a computerized injection pump which precisely detects the real time pressure at the tip of a Tuohy needle when placed in human tissues, thanks to a continuous fluid path. In our institution, we usually perform EI for chronic back pain guided by the Compuflo device, especially for expected difficult procedures. However, we report 6 false negative cases on a total number of 60 procedures in which the Compuflo system didn't meet the criteria of epidural space entry, even though the epidural space was actually reached. A mild pressure decrease (less than 50%) which lasted for more than 5 s was reported on the monitor, and the acoustic signal changed in a little bit lower sound, without a clear indication on stopping or not the needle advancement. This unspecific drop in monitored pressure gives false negatives using the Compuflo® system and may lead to excessive advancing of the needle. In conclusion, we consider the epidural pressure monitoring device Compuflo as a tool which may be able to ease the correct positioning of an epidural needle. The percentage of 10% false negative identifications of the epidural space in our case series however suggests more investigations on adequate or specific settings for this epidural system. In the meantime, in chronic pain patients, this anesthetic technique should only be used by experienced hands.

Recent update on epidural blood patch

Epidural blood patch (EBP) is the injection of autologous blood into the epidural space with the intent of sealing off a dural tear and stopping the leakage of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). EBP may cause an increase in intracranial pressure due to the mass effect of the injected blood volume, causing CSF from the spinal compartment to enter the intracranial compartment. EBP is usually considered in the management of moderate to severe headache (HA) attributed to low CSF pressure, such as post-dural puncture HA (PDPH), CSF fistula HA, and HA attributed to spontaneous intracranial hypotension (SIH) that does not respond to conservative management. However, prophylactic administration of EBP after accidental dural puncture can hardly be substantiated at present. EBP is generally safe but may rarely be associated with serious complications. Therefore, it should be carefully planned and performed under C-arm fluoroscopic guidance. Although many studies on PDPH and SIH have been conducted until recently, only few reviews have summarized the effectiveness of EBP from the perspective of a pain physician. This article reviews the current literature on the indication, contraindication, procedural consideration, post-procedural management, outcomes, and complications of EBP and the considerations for EBP in patients with COVID-19.

A randomized control study to assess the efficacy of the sphenopalatine ganglion block in patients with post dural puncture headache

Background:

Post dural puncture headache (PDPH) delays discharge from hospital. We studied the efficacy of sphenopalatine ganglion (SPG) block, a novel technique in management of PDPH using 0.25% Ropivacaine.

Methodology:

Forty patients presenting with PDPH after urological procedures under spinal anaesthesia were randomized into two groups: Group C and Group S. Group C received conservative treatment with bed rest, adequate hydration and caffeine 200 mg 6^th hourly. Group S patients received SPG block (packing bilateral nostril for 10 minutes with 0.25% Ropivacaine). Inj Paracetamol 1 g IV was given as primary analgesic. Intravenous Diclofenac 75 mg was administered as rescue analgesic. Patients were monitored for 72 hours. Total analgesic requirement, time to attain adequate pain relief, headache pain score, patient satisfactory score were compared between the two groups. We compared the PDPH severity score for headache using 5-point scale method and patient satisfaction score using Likert-type scale.

Results:

Demographic data, onset of PDPH, needle size, intervention time were statistically insignificant. Total paracetamol consumption was significantly reduced in SPG group. Headache pain score was significantly low in Group S up to 54 hours. Patient satisfaction score was statistically better in Group S. Mean block onset time was 12 minutes. One patient in Group C required Epidural blood patch.

Conclusion:

SPG block is an effective alternative in managing patients with PDPH. The need for epidural blood patch is greatly reduced using SPG block. Procedural safety, immediate and sustained pain relief make it an evolving treatment modality for PDPH.

Efficacy of greater occipital nerve block for pain relief in patients with postdural puncture headache: A meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

This study aimed at assessing the therapeutic effectiveness of greater occipital nerve block (GONB) against postdural puncture headache (PDPH).

METHODS

Studies investigating analgesic effects of GONB against PDPH in adults were retrieved from the MEDLINE, EMBASE, Google scholar, and Cochrane central databases from their inception dates to May, 2021. Pain score at postprocedural 24 hours was the primary endpoint, while secondary endpoints were pain score at postprocedural 1 hour and 12 hours as well as the risk of intervention failure.

RESULTS

Of the 7 studies (randomized controlled trials [RCTs], n = 4; non-RCTs, n = 3) that recruited 275 patients, 2 investigated female patients undergoing cesarean section and the other 5 were conducted in both obstetric and nonobstetric settings. Pooled results showed a lower mean pain score at 24 hours (i.e., primary outcome) (mean difference [MD] = -2.66, 95%: CI: -3.98 to -1.33, P < .001; I2 = 97%, 6 studies), 1 hour (MD = -4.23, 95% confidence interval [CI]: -5.08 to -3.37, P < .00001; I2 = 86%, 5 studies), and 6 hours (MD = -2.78, 95% CI: -4.99 to -0.57, P = .01; I2 = 98%, 4 studies) in patients with GONB compared to those without. Trial sequential analysis supported the robustness of evidence at postprocedural 24 hours. The use of GONB also decreased the risk of intervention failure (relative ratio [RR] = 0.4, 95% CI: 0.19 to 0.82, P = .01; I2 = 96%, 6 studies, 277 patients).

CONCLUSION

Our results suggested a therapeutic effect of greater occipital nerve block against postdural puncture headache up to postprocedural 24 hours. Further large-scale studies are warranted to evaluate its therapeutic benefit beyond the acute stage.

Did she have an epidural? The long-term consequences of postdural puncture headache and the role of unintended dural puncture

OBJECTIVE

This narrative literature review examines the long-term impact of postdural puncture headache (PDPH) in postpartum women following an unintended dural puncture (UDP) with a large bore needle commonly used for epidural catheter placement. It seeks to bridge the knowledge gap for the neurologist as to the mounting body of obstetric anesthesia literature on the development of chronic headache after PDPH with this unique needle.

BACKGROUND

Headache is the most common complication of dural puncture, and the risk is greatest in the parturient population. Preexisting risk factors for this population include youth and sex, and after UDP with a large bore needle, almost 70%-80% report a headache. Additionally, there appears to be a significant cohort who experience long-term, persistent headache after UDP.

METHODS

We performed a narrative review of literature using PubMed, searching terms that included long-term follow-up after UDP with a large bore needle in the postpartum population.

RESULTS

In women who had UDP with a large bore needle used for epidural catheter placement at delivery, the rate of chronic debilitating headache is around 30% in the months following delivery and may persist for up to a year or longer.

CONCLUSION

Based on the existing literature, we have mounting evidence that UDP with the large bore needle used to place an epidural catheter should be understood as a high-risk inciting event for the development of long-term headaches not simply a high risk of acute PDPH. Additionally, consideration should be given to stratifying the etiology of PDPH, based on needle type, and recognizing the entity of chronic PDPH, thus allowing for improvements in research and diagnosis.

Chronic disabling postpartum headache after unintentional dural puncture during epidural anaesthesia: a prospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

Unintentional dural puncture with an epidural needle complicates approximately 1% of epidural anaesthetics and causes an acute headache in 60-80% of these patients. Several retrospective studies suggest an increased risk of chronic headache. We assessed the relationship between unintentional dural puncture and chronic disabling headache, defined as one or more functionally limiting headaches within a 2-week interval ending 2, 6, and 12 months postpartum.

METHODS

In this prospective observational study, parturients who experienced unintentional dural puncture were matched 1:4 with control patients. Patients completed questionnaires regarding characteristics of headache and back pain pre-pregnancy, during pregnancy, immediately postpartum, and at 2, 6, and 12 months postpartum. The primary outcome was prevalence of disabling headache in the past 2 weeks, assessed at 2 months postpartum. Secondary outcomes included prevalence and characteristics of headache and back pain at these time points.

RESULTS

We enrolled 99 patients. At 2 and 6 months postpartum, the prevalence of disabling headache was greater among patients with unintentional dural puncture than matched controls (2 months, 74% vs 38%, relative risk 1.9, 95% confidence interval 1.2-2.9, P=0.009; 6 months, 56% vs 25%, relative risk 2.1, 95% confidence interval 1.1-4.0, P=0.033). There was no difference in the prevalence of back pain at any time point.

CONCLUSIONS

Our prospective trial confirms retrospective studies that chronic headache is more prevalent among women who experienced unintentional dural puncture compared with controls who received uncomplicated neuraxial anaesthesia. This finding has implications for the. patient consent process and recommendations for long-term follow-up of patients who experience unintentional dural puncture.

Neuroimaging During Pregnancy and the Postpartum Period

New onset or exacerbation of preexisting neurologic symptoms during pregnancy often necessitates brain or spinal cord imaging. Magnetic resonance techniques are preferred imaging modalities during pregnancy and the postpartum period. Ionizing radiation with computed tomography and intravenous contrast material with magnetic resonance or computed tomography should be avoided during pregnancy. New onset of headaches in the last trimester or in the postpartum period may indicate cerebrovascular disease or a mass lesion, for which brain imaging is necessary. The continuum of cerebrovascular complications of pregnancy and enlarging lesions may produce neurologic symptoms later in pregnancy and after delivery, necessitating imaging.

[Post-dural puncture headache]

Post-dural puncture headache belongs to the group of secondary headache disorders and is a typical complication of intended or unintended dural puncture. The main symptom is orthostatic headache, which can be accompanied by neurological symptoms such as diplopia depending on the extent of the cerebrospinal fluid leak. The course of this headache is predominantly benign, showing spontaneous improvement over a couple of days, although severe cases are described in the literature. The following article provides an overview of the current knowledge about the headache's pathophysiology, diagnostic work-up and therapy.

Epidural Contrast Volume on Post-Myelogram Lumbar CT Predicts the Rate of Subsequent Blood Patch Treatment

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Headaches due to cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leakage are a well-known complication of dural puncture. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the presence and volume of epidural contrast on postmyelogram CTs of the lumbar spine were associated with post-dural puncture headaches (PDPHs) requiring epidural blood patch (EBP) treatment.

METHODS

A retrospective case control study of all fluoroscopically guided lumbar myelograms performed over a 5-year period by a single radiology practitioner assistant was performed. Ten patients who underwent EBP treatment after their myelograms were identified. Forty-six patients with similar demographics who did not receive blood patches were then selected. CT-lumbar myelogram images of patients and controls were reviewed. The volume of epidural contrast was then quantified as "severe" or "mild." Severe epidural contrast was defined as contrast detected in the ventral epidural space, the extra-foraminal space, or extending greater than or equal to the length of two vertebral bodies from the level of dural puncture.

RESULTS

Some amount of epidural contrast was seen in all patients. However, a severe volume of epidural contrast was associated with increased risk for PDPH requiring an EBP (odds ratio = 37.00; 95% CI = 4.1-330.8, p = 0.0012).

CONCLUSION

Severe epidural contrast on postmyelogram CTs of the lumbar spine was associated with an increased risk of PDPH requiring EBP treatment. When present, this finding can alert the proceduralist that the patient may require closer observation and follow up with earlier intervention.

Patient-controlled epidural analgesia, patient-controlled intravenous analgesia, and conventional intravenous opioids for gynecologic interstitial brachytherapy: A single-center retrospective study

PURPOSE Interstitial brachytherapy for gynecologic malignancies is stressful physically and mentally; however, optimal analgesic methods remain unclear. We investigated the effect of analgesic methods on pain and adverse events during interstitial brachytherapy for gynecologic malignancies. METHODS The data of 73 patients who underwent interstitial brachytherapy for gynecologic malignancies between April 2015 and March 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. Patient-controlled epidural analgesia (PCEA), patient-controlled intravenous analgesia (PCIA), and conventional intravenous opioid administration were used for analgesia during treatment. We compared the analgesic effects based on a numerical rating scale (NRS), the number of additional analgesics, and the adverse events associated with analgesia. The NRS score was calculated as an average value for every 12 h (NRS1: treatment on the 1st day from 12 to 24 o'clock; NRS2: treatment on the 2nd day from 0 to 12 o'clock; NRS3: treatment on the 2nd day from 12 to 24 o'clock). The mean NRS score differences between the methods were evaluated using mixed models for repeated-measures analyses. RESULTS The NRS score was significantly lower at all times for PCEA (NRS1: p = 0.003; NRS2: p = 0.011; NRS3: p < 0.001). NRS2 and NRS3 were significantly lower for PCIA (NRS2: p = 0.043; NRS3: p < 0.001) than for the conventional method. The NRS scores for PCEA and PCIA were not significantly different. Moreover, additional analgesics and adverse events did not differ between the three treatments. CONCLUSION PCEA and PCIA were superior to conventional intravenous opioids for analgesia in interstitial brachytherapy for gynecologic malignancies. However, adverse events associated with PCEA and PCIA were not reduced.

Postpartum headaches after epidural or spinal anesthesia

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Postpartum headache is a common occurrence with various obstetric, neurologic, and anesthetic etiologies. Post dural puncture headache (PDPH) after neuraxial anesthesia is a culprit that may be less familiar to obstetricians. In this review, authors will discuss the differential diagnosis and management of postpartum headache, review PDPH, and explore evidence suggesting that PDPH may have greater implications than previously considered.

RECENT FINDINGS

Emerging evidence suggests that PDPH, previously believed to be benign and self-limited, is associated with significant acute and chronic sequelae. A recent large database study links PDPH to subdural hematoma and cerebral venous sinus thrombosis. The authors also identified associations between PDPH and bacterial meningitis, depression, and back pain. A growing body of literature also links PDPH or unintentional dural puncture with an epidural needle (UDP) with development of chronic headaches.

SUMMARY

Patients who experience UDP or PDPH should be counseled to return for evaluation for new or worsening headache. In the immediate postpartum setting, clinicians assessing these patients should have a low threshold to obtain brain imaging. In addition, obstetricians should be alerted that patients who suffer UDP may be prone to develop chronic headache disorders and consider referral to pain specialists.

[Post-dural puncture headache]

Post-dural puncture headache belongs to the group of secondary headache disorders and is a typical complication of intended or unintended dural puncture. The main symptom is orthostatic headache, which can be accompanied by neurological symptoms such as diplopia depending on the extent of the cerebrospinal fluid leak. The course of this headache is predominantly benign, showing spontaneous improvement over a couple of days, although severe cases are described in the literature. The following article provides an overview of the current knowledge about the headache's pathophysiology, diagnostic work-up and therapy.

Incidence of postural headache after lumbar puncture requiring epidural blood patch: Effects of needle caliber; 2-year experience

PURPOSE

A common complication of lumbar puncture (LP) is postural headaches. Epidural blood patches are recommended if patients fail conservative management. Owing to a perceived increase in the number of post-lumbar puncture headaches (PLPHs) requiring epidural blood patches at a regional hospital in our network, the decision was made to switch from 20 to 22 gauge needles for routine diagnostic LPs.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Patients presenting for LP and myelography at one network regional hospital were included in the study. The patients were contacted by nursing staff 3 days post-procedure; those patients who still had postural headaches after conservative management and received epidural blood patches were considered positive cases. In total, 292 patients were included; 134 underwent LP with 20-gauge needles (53 male, 81 female, average age 57.7) and 158 underwent LP with 22-gauge needles (79 male, 79 female, average age 54.6).

RESULTS

Of 134 patients undergoing LP with 20-gauge needles, 15 (11%) had PLPH requiring epidural blood patch (11 female, 3 male, average age 38). Of 158 patients undergoing LP with 22-gauge needles, only 5 (3%) required epidural blood patches (all female, average age 43). The difference was statistically significant (p < 0.01). Risk factors for PLPH included female gender, younger age, lower body mass index, history of prior PLPH and history of headaches.

CONCLUSION

Switching from 20-gauge to 22-gauge needles significantly decreased the incidence of PLPH requiring epidural blood patch. Narrower gauge or non-cutting needles should be considered in patients with risk factors for PLPH, allowing for CSF requirements.

Postpartum Headache due to Cerebellar Infarct Initially Misdiagnosed as Postdural Puncture Headache: A Case Report

We present the case of a 39-year-old woman with postpartum cerebellar infarction (CI) following spinal anesthesia for cesarean delivery. The patient experienced mild headache after postoperative day 1 and returned on postoperative day 6 with a severe headache. For the subsequent 3 days, she underwent conservative treatment for presumed postdural puncture headache (PDPH) before neurologic decline and diagnosis of CI on postoperative day 9. She subsequently underwent craniotomy and debridement of necrotic tissues. Prolonged or position-independent postpartum headache should prompt broadening of the differential diagnosis beyond PDPH to include other more rare but serious causes of postpartum headache.