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Intracranial hypotension headache after uncomplicated caudal epidural injection
Author(s) -
Thomas R.,
Thanthulage S.
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
anaesthesia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.839
H-Index - 117
eISSN - 1365-2044
pISSN - 0003-2409
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2044.2011.06980.x
Subject(s) - medicine , intracranial hypotension , weakness , epidural blood patch , presentation (obstetrics) , orthostatic vital signs , etiology , spontaneous intracranial hypotension , anesthesia , surgery , cerebrospinal fluid , complication , blood pressure
Summary 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.