Open AccessPostural Headache in the Presence of Cerebral Venous Sinus Thrombosis
Author(s) -
Ludmil Todorov,
Charles E. Laurito,
David E. Schwartz
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
anesthesia and analgesia/anesthesia and analgesia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.404
H-Index - 201
eISSN - 1526-7598
pISSN - 0003-2999
DOI - 10.1213/01.ane.0000181003.37968.cb
Subject(s) - medicine , cerebral venous sinus thrombosis , anesthesia , venous thrombosis , magnetic resonance imaging , thrombosis , surgery , epidural blood patch , neurological disorder , central nervous system disease , complication , radiology
Cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) can present with a headache similar to that after a dural puncture. We report on a patient who developed postural headache after epidural anesthesia for delivery. The headache became more intense during the following 6 days, and the patient had a tonic clonic seizure. A magnetic resonance angiogram demonstrated CSVT, and anticoagulation therapy was started, with resolution of the symptoms over 2 wk. Any postdural-puncture headache that loses its positional character, becomes persistent, or does not improve with a properly performed blood patch should raise the suspicion of CVST.