Postpartum preeclampsia: emergency department presentation and management

Study Objective: Postpartum preeclampsia/eclampsia is the presence of hypertension and proteinuria, with or without seizures, occurring up to 4 weeks after delivery. We describe the Emergency Department (ED) presentation, signs and symptoms, results of diagnostic studies, management, and outcome in a cohort of patients diagnosed with postpartum preeclampsia/eclampsia at our institutions, and use this to review the diagnosis and management of postpartum preeclampsia/eclampsia. Methods: A retrospective chart review was conducted at two urban teaching hospitals. Twenty-two cases were identified via ICD-9 (International Classification of Diseases, 9^th revision) codes of discharge diagnoses over an 8-year period. Only those patients who initially presented to an ED in the postpartum period after hospital discharge were included. A standardized data tool was used to extract demographic data, signs and symptoms of preeclampsia/eclampsia, ancillary studies previously associated with eclamptic pathology, and outcome during admission. Results: Of the 22 women, over half (55%) had not been diagnosed with preeclampsia in the ante- or peripartum period. Common prodromal symptoms and signs in the postpartum presentation included headache, visual changes, hypertension, edema, proteinuria, elevated uric acid, and elevated liver function tests. All 4 patients who seized had prodromal symptoms. Women presented from 3 to 10 days postpartum (median: 5 days). Only 10 women were primiparas. Nineteen women presented with diastolic blood pressures > 90 mm, and only 3 of these had diastolic blood pressures of 110 mm Hg or greater. Conclusions: Postpartum preeclampsia/eclampsia often presents to the ED without a history of preeclampsia during the pregnancy. Further, not all women with this diagnosis who present to the ED in the postpartum period will have each of the “classic” features of this disease, including elevated blood pressure, edema, proteinuria, and hyperreflexia. This report is intended to inform emergency physicians of the presentation of preeclampsia/eclampsia in the postpartum period, including symptoms of headache, vision changes, elevated blood pressure, or seizure up to 4 weeks after delivery.     

Sumatriptan in patients with postdural puncture headache

OBJECTIVE: To determine the efficacy of sumatriptan in the management of patients presenting for an epidural blood patch for the management of postdural puncture headache. BACKGROUND: Postdural puncture headache can be quite severe, requiring invasive therapy (ie, epidural blood patch). Sumatriptan has been used successfully in patients with postdural puncture headache, however, its use has not been investigated in a controlled fashion. METHODS: Ten patients with postdural puncture headache presenting for an epidural blood patch were given either saline or sumatriptan subcutaneously. The severity of the headache was evaluated at baseline and 1 hour following injection. If the headache remained severe, an epidural blood patch was performed. RESULTS: Only one patient in each group received relief from the injection. CONCLUSIONS: We do not recommend sumatriptan in patients who have exhausted conservative management of postdural puncture headache.     

Disappearance of migraine attacks during long-lasting postdural puncture headache: a case report

We report a patient with a history of frequent migraine attacks who developed postdural puncture headache that persisted for 3 months. His migraine attacks ceased during the period of his postdural puncture headache, but resumed 3 days after disappearance of that headache. This case suggests an interrelationship between the mechanisms of postdural puncture headache and migraine.     

Subdural hematoma after dural puncture headache treated by epidural blood patch. (St. Thomas Hospital, London, United Kingdom) British J Anesth. 2001;86:720–723.

This case study discussed an accidental dural puncture in a 39-year-old patient during the siting of an epidural catheter for pain relief in labor. Twenty hours after the puncture, the mother developed a typical postdural headache, which increased in severity over the subsequent 24-hour period. An epidural blood patch was performed at 48 hours, and this initially relieved the headache. After discharge from the hospital, and 14 days after the dural puncture, the headache recurred, together with expressive dysphasia, poor coordination, and sensory loss in the right arm. A magnetic resonance imaging scan demonstrated a left-sided subdural hematoma, which drained successfully with complete recovery.     

Late postpartum eclampsia: a common presentation of an uncommon diagnosis

We present two cases of late postpartum eclampsia. Both patients presented with a chief complaint of headache, and were diagnosed with eclampsia after the onset of seizures. Neither patient had proteinuria or edema. Further evaluation did not yield another diagnosis for the seizures, and treatment with i.v. magnesium sulfate was successful in stopping the seizures. No further seizure activity occurred in either patient.     

Is eclampsia preventable? A case control review of consecutive cases from an urban underserved region

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to determine whether eclampsia is potentially preventable. METHODS: This was a retrospective case control study comparing 25 cases of eclampsia, 33 cases of preeclampsia and 50 pregnant controls. Eclampsia cases were classified as follows: group A was potentially preventable by patient education if there were preeclamptic symptoms before presenting to the hospital; group B was potentially preventable by health care provider if patient presented to health care with evidence of preeclampsia and was not appropriately treated; group C was not preventable if eclampsia developed without symptoms or preeclampsia. Statistical analysis was done as applicable. RESULTS: The mean gestational age at seizure was 34 weeks; 50% of seizures occurred outside a hospital and 44% had multiple seizures. Twenty were antepartum, three intrapartum, and two postpartum. Fourteen (56%) cases were classified as group A, 4 (16%) as group B and 7 (28%) as group C. Compared to controls, African-Americans, nulliparity, premature delivery, and increased neonatal morbidity were significantly associated with eclampsia. Compared with preeclamptics, eclamptic subjects had more symptomatology and more adverse maternal complications. CONCLUSIONS: In this underserved population, a significant percentage of eclampsia cases are potentially preventable by patient education or health care response. In a smaller percentage, eclampsia may develop without any symptomatology or preeclampsia.     

Postdural puncture headache: diagnosis,prevention and therapy

Lumbar puncture (LP) is a routine technique performed for a variety of procedures, e.g. diagnosis, administration of drugs, myelography and spinal anaesthesia. Postdural puncture headache is a common complication (30-40% in diagnostic LP). Prevention can be accomplished by using small-gauge needles (< or = 25 G) or pencil-point needles (22 G). Therapy should be carried out in a stepwise approach. The first step is bedrest, use of analgetics, i.v. fluids and an adequate guidance of the patient. The second step comprises special drug therapy. Several methods of pharmacologic management have been presented in the literature, but most of these are case reports. There is a lack of large double-blind placebo-controlled studies. Theophylline, caffeine, ACTH and sumatriptan are potentially promising agents for the treatment of postdural puncture headache. The efficacy of theophylline has been proven in a double-blind and placebo-controlled study. There are a few studies and case reports reporting that caffeine p.o. and i.v. is effective in the treatment of postdural puncture headache, but recurrence of headache after caffeine therapy is frequent. ACTH acts on a complex hormonal system. The treatment with sumatriptan has been reported in only a few case reports. The third step, and one of the most effective treatments of postdural puncture headache, is the epidural blood patch. The success rate ranges between 80 and 97%.     

Postpartum headache: A broader differential

A 40-year-old female presented to the ED with a history of intermittent headaches since a vaginal delivery 8 days prior. Her pregnancy was unremarkable and was not complicated by pre-eclampsia. She did not present with signs or symptoms consistent with postdural puncture headache or pre-eclampsia. Her delivery was not complicated by hypotension or post-partum hemorrhage. By chance, she was found to be hyponatremic and admitted to internal medicine for further work-up. She was diagnosed with postpartum lymphocytic adenohypophysitis and treated with steroids. She was discharged with a steroid taper and had complete resolution on follow up.Lymphocytic hypophysitis (LH), or commonly known as autoimmune hypophysitis, is a rare inflammatory condition affecting the pituitary gland. Acute LH can result in sudden death as demonstrated in some case reports. The most common symptom in >50% of cases is headache. First-line pharmacological treatment consists of high-dose corticosteroids and is effective in reducing pituitary size and improving endocrine insufficiency in 75% of cases.LH is a potential cause of postpartum headache that can be easily screened for with history and routine bloodwork and has good outcomes with early intervention.LH should be added to the differential for postpartum headaches presenting to the emergency department and routine blood work should be considered for all postpartum headaches.     

Spinalkatheterassoziiertes Liquorverlustsyndrom

Cerebrospinal fluid leak, with its typical postdural puncture headache, occurs in 8–25?% of patients after insertion of a spinal catheter for treatment with an intrathecal pain pump. Symptoms are usually self-limiting; only rarely is an epidural blood patch used. In this case of a 49-year-old woman, we assumed a postdural puncture headache after replacement of the spinal catheter. Because of the persistence of symptoms and serous wound secretion around the paravertebral incision, we decided to test the catheter under radiological control with a contrast agent. Leakage could be seen within the spinal catheter, which was responsible for the symptoms. Because of an ongoing infection accompanied by meningitis the whole system had to be removed.     

Treatment of Post‐Dural Puncture Headache With Bilateral Greater Occipital Nerve Block

(Headache 2010;50:869‐881) Epidural blood patch is an effective treatment with a low complication rate. It is also an invasive method that can cause permanent neurological sequelae such as early and late back pain, radiculopathy, spinal‐subdural hematoma, spinal‐epiarachnoid hematoma, intrathecal hematoma, arachnoiditis, and infection. We report a case in which a postdural puncture headache resolved within 2 minutes of a greater occipital nerve block, a minimally invasive and easy procedure with a low complication rate. This case report suggests that a greater occipital nerve block may be a successful alternative treatment for patients with post‐dural puncture headache.     

Changing pattern of headache pointing to cerebral venous thrombosis after lumbar puncture and intravenous high-dose corticosteroids

OBJECTIVE: To emphasize the diagnostic importance of change in the headache pattern which pointed to cerebral venous thrombosis in two patients after lumbar puncture and high-dose intravenous methylprednisolone for suspected multiple sclerosis. RESULTS: Both patients had a diagnostic lumbar puncture for suspected multiple sclerosis and were treated with high-dose intravenous methylprednisolone. Both developed a postlumbar puncture headache that was initially postural, typical of low cerebrospinal fluid pressure. Three days later, the headache became constant, lost its postural component, and was associated with bilateral papilledema. Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain disclosed superior sagittal and lateral sinuses thrombosis. The diagnostic difficulties of such cases and the potential role of lumbar puncture and corticosteroids as risk factors for cerebral venous thrombosis are discussed. CONCLUSIONS: When a typical postdural puncture headache loses its postural component, investigations should be performed to rule out cerebral venous thrombosis, particularly in the presence of other risk factors.     

Postdural puncture headache: The role of prophylactic epidural blood patch

Prophylactic epidural blood patch may prevent postdural puncture headache that develops after intentional or inadvertent dural puncture. However, despite earlier reports that this procedure was of value, subsequent studies have failed to show it has significant advantages over delayed blood patch. Reports that were supportive of this technique were based on nonrandomized observational studies with significant selective bias. At the present time, most centers do not routinely offer prophylactic blood patches, and those that do report a variable success rate. A recent case study of permanent neurologic deficit after prophylactic epidural blood patch has also raised some concern about the safety of this prophylactic technique.     

Plasma exchange for preeclampsia: II. Unsuccessful antepartum utilization for severe preeclampsia with or without hellp syndrome

OBJECTIVE: To explore the efficacy of plasmapheresis/plasma exchange as the primary therapy to arrest and reverse the progression of severe preeclampsia with or without HELLP syndrome in order to postpone delivery and improve perinatal outcome in very preterm pregnancies. STUDY DESIGN: In this case series of patients managed over a 4-year period from 1984 to 1987, seven gravidas with severe preterm preeclampsia underwent 1-2 plasmaphereses/plasma exchange procedures using the IBM 2997 Cell Separator with continuous electronic fetal heart rate monitoring (n = 7 patients) and central cardiovascular monitoring (n = 3 patients). RESULTS: The seven patients (one with HELLP syndrome, six without HELLP) presented between 24 and 30 weeks gestation and, despite plasmapheresis/plasma exchange, the severity of each study subject's preeclampsia persisted without clinically significant improvement. Maternal-fetal deterioration required cesarean delivery in all cases within 48 (in four patients within <36) hours of therapy. No clinically significant adverse effect of plasma exchange therapy was recorded during cardiovascular and laboratory monitoring; two fetuses developed repetitive late decelerations during exchange despite adequate maternal fluid preload. The only patient with HELLP syndrome developed eclampsia as her third plasma exchange within 25 hours was being initiated. Significant problems with fluid retention and displacement (variable amounts of pulmonary edema, pleural effusions, large volume ascites) were encountered in all patients. Four neonates died (24-27 weeks/438-820 g) and three survived intact (740, 950, and 1,280 g). One mother (case 5) developed end-stage renal disease 21 months postpartum. CONCLUSIONS: The application of plasmapheresis/plasma exchange therapy as described in order to prolong very preterm pregnancies in the undelivered patient with severe preeclampsia/eclampsia with or without HELLP syndrome did not produced encouraging results. Patients in general were exposed to additional medical and surgical risk without a corresponding improvement in perinatal outcome.     

Epidural Blood Patch for the Treatment of Abducens Nerve Palsy due to Spontaneous Intracranial Hypotension -A Case Report-

Intracranial hypotension is characterized by a postural headache which is relieved in a supine position and worsened in a sitting or standing position. Although less commonly reported than postural headache, sixth nerve palsy has also been observed in intracranial hypotension. The epidural blood patch (EBP) has been performed for postdural puncture headache, but little is known about the proper timing of EBP in the treatment of sixth nerve palsy due to intracranial hypotension. This article reports a case of sixth nerve palsy due to spontaneous intracranial hypotension which was treated by EBP 10 days after the onset of palsy.     

Fibrin Glue to Treat Spinal Fluid Leaks Associated with Intrathecal Drug Systems

Intrathecal drug delivery systems (IDDSs) are used to treat resistant pain states as well as intractable spasticity via medication delivery into the spinal fluid. Risks associated with implantation of these devices include infection, bleeding, intrathecal granuloma formation, and neurologic sequelae similar to other neuraxial procedures. Intrathecal catheter placement creates the additional risk of persistent spinal fluid leak, which can lead to postdural puncture headaches as well as seroma formation and may require subsequent surgical exploration or explantation. This retrospective case series examines 3 patients at a single institution with persistent spinal fluid leak after IDDS placement (and explantation in one case) resulting in headache and/or seroma formation that were treated with epidural fibrin glue. Three patients underwent IDDS implantation with baclofen for spasticity. In 1 patient, a cerebral spinal fluid leak developed at 1‐week postoperatively. After several unsuccessful epidural blood patches and surgical exploration with a catheter revision, she was ultimately treated successfully with a fibrin glue patch. The second patient received an IDDS and did well until a seroma developed 1 year later. He was likewise treated with an epidural fibrin glue patch after 2 failed blood patches. In a third patient, a spinal fluid leak developed after explantation of an IDDS and was treated with an epidural fibrin glue patch as initial therapy.     

A causative role for remote dural puncture and resultant arachnoid bleb in new daily persistent headache: A case report

A 24-year-old woman experienced a postdural puncture headache following a labor epidural, recovered following bedrest, and was then without headache for 12 years. She then experienced sudden onset of daily, holocephalic headache persisting for 6 years prior to presentation. Pain reduced with prolonged recumbency. MRI brain, MRI myelography, and later bilateral decubitus digital subtraction myelography showed no cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak or CSF venous fistula, and normal opening pressure. Review of an initial noncontrast MRI myelogram revealed a subcentimeter dural outpouching at L3–L4, suspicious for a posttraumatic arachnoid bleb. Targeted epidural fibrin patch at the bleb resulted in profound but temporary symptom relief, and the patient was offered surgical repair. Intraoperatively, an arachnoid bleb was discovered and repaired followed by remission of headache. We report that a distant dural puncture can play a causative role in the long delayed onset of new daily persistent headache.     

Case reports: postpartum cerebral angiopathy in a patient with chronic migraine with aura

A 25-year-old woman with a history of chronic severe migraine with aura presented in an apoplectic state 1 week after the delivery of her third child. She developed a severe headache and within hours lapsed into a coma. A CT scan of the brain showed cerebral edema and an occipital hemorrhage. A four-vessel angiogram showed diffuse arterial narrowing of all the intracranial vessels with segmental narrowing of the suprasellar portion of the internal carotid arteries bilaterally. She had no risk factors for stroke or vasculitis. Her pregnancy and delivery were uneventful with no preeclampsia or eclampsia. Apart from ergometrine at the time of the delivery, no vasoconstrictor drugs were used. She recovered spontaneously. Serial CT scans of the brain demonstrated resolution of the edema and hemorrhage with the development of cortical and watershed infarcts. A repeat cerebral angiogram was normal. She was, therefore, diagnosed as having suffered from postpartum cerebral angiopathy, a form of reversible cerebral vasoconstriction, called the Call or Call-Fleming syndrome. The relationship between migraine and postpartum angiopathy in the development of reversible cerebral vasoconstriction is discussed.     

Frovatriptan for the prevention of postdural puncture headache

Bussone G, Tullo V, d'Onofrio F, Petretta V, Curone M, Frediani F, Tonini C & Omboni S. Frovatriptan for the prevention of postdural puncture headache. Cephalalgia 2007; 27:809–813. London. ISSN 0333-1024
Efficacy of 5-day treatment with oral frovatriptan 2.5 mg/die for the prophylaxis of post-dural puncture headache (PDPH) was tested in 50 in-patients. A mild headache occurred in 7 (14%) patients for a total of 9 days (p < 0.01 vs. no-PDPH). Most episodes of PDPH occurred in the first days of treatment (only 1 patient had headache at dismissal): 5 patients had only 1 episode, while 2 had headache for 2 consecutive days. No other symptoms were recorded. Occurrence of PDPH in a subgroup of 6 (12%) patients previously submitted to a diagnostic lumbar puncture was also examined: 4 of them reported a PDPH on the previous lumbar puncture in absence of triptans. In only 1 of these 4 patients PDPH recurred under treatment with frovatriptan. In conclusion, our non-randomized open-label study suggests efficacy of oral frovatriptan for PDPH prevention. These results need to be confirmed in a randomized, controlled, double-blind study.     

Sumatriptan for headache caused by head and neck cancer

The use of sumatriptan for the treatment of migraine and cluster headache is well established. Sumatriptan has also been reported to be effective for the treatment of postdural puncture headache, postictal headache, and headache related to intravenous immunoglobulin infusion. We report two patients with headache caused by locally invasive head and neck cancer relieved by oral sumatriptan.     

Imaging of Headache in Pregnancy

Pregnant women are most likely to have primary headaches, such as migraine and tension-type headaches, which can be diagnosed and treated without brain imaging. Primary headaches may even start de novo during pregnancy, especially in the first few months. However, when the headache occurs late in pregnancy or in the peripartum period, secondary causes of headaches need to be considered and evaluated by brain and/or vascular imaging, generally using magnetic resonance techniques. There is considerable overlap between the cerebrovascular complications of pregnancy, including preeclampsia/eclampsia, posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES), reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome (RCVS), and both hemorrhagic and ischemic strokes; although, their imaging may be distinctive. Imaging is necessary to distinguish between arterial and venous pathology causing headache in the peripartum patient, as there can be similar presenting symptoms. Mass lesions, both neoplastic and inflammatory, can enlarge and produce headaches and neurological symptoms late in pregnancy.