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Successful treatment of dural puncture headache with epidural saline infusion after failure of epidural blood patch
Author(s) -
Stevens R. A.,
Jorgensen V. N.
Publication year - 1988
Publication title -
acta anaesthesiologica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.738
H-Index - 107
eISSN - 1399-6576
pISSN - 0001-5172
DOI - 10.1111/j.1399-6576.1988.tb02760.x
Subject(s) - medicine , epidural blood patch , anesthesia , saline , post dural puncture headache , surgery , complication , spinal anesthesia
A case is presented of a 30–year–old female with a 4–month history of post–lumbar puncture headache (PLPHA) resulting from an accidental dural puncture during an attempted epidural anesthetic for cesarean section. Epidural blood patches were attempted at 4 days and 3 months post–lumbar puncture, but were unsuccessful. At 4 months post–lumbar puncture, a 24–h epidural saline infusion relieved the PLPHA for 48 h, but the headache returned. Finally, a second epidural saline infusion was done, followed by an epidural blood patch, which permanently cured the PLPHA. Follow–up to 4 months showed no return of the PLPHA. The rationale for epidural blood and saline patches is discussed.