Decrease in the incidence of post-dural puncture headache: maintaining CSF volume

The incidence of epidural needle-induced post-dural puncture headache (PDPH) in parturients following dural puncture with a large bore (18-gauge) needle has been reported to range 76-85%. We describe seven cases in which the performance of epidural anesthesia in parturients was complicated by an unintentional dural puncture with an 18-gauge epidural needle. In all seven cases, the unintentional dural puncture was followed by (i) injection of the CSF in the glass syringe back into the subarachnoid space through the epidural needle, (ii) insertion of a epidural catheter into the subarachnoid space (now referred to as an intrathecal catheter), (iii) injection of a small amount of preservative free saline (3-5 ml) into the subarachnoid space through the intrathecal catheter, (iv) administration of bolus and then continuous intrathecal labor analgesia through the intrathecal catheter and then (v) leaving the intrathecal catheter in-situ for a total of 12-20 h. PDPH occurred in only one of these cases (14%).     

Accidental dural puncture,postdural puncture headache,intrathecal catheters,and epidural blood patch: revisiting the old nemesis

One of the controversial management options for accidental dural puncture in pregnant patients is the conversion of labor epidural analgesia to continuous spinal analgesia by threading the epidural catheter intrathecally. No clear consensus exists on how to best prevent severe headache from occurring after accidental dural puncture. To investigate whether the intrathecal placement of an epidural catheter following accidental dural puncture impacts the incidence of postdural puncture headache (PDPH) and the subsequent need for an epidural blood patch in parturients. A retrospective chart review of accidental dural puncture was performed at Hutzel Women’s Hospital in Detroit, MI, USA for the years 2002–2010. Documented cases of accidental dural punctures (N = 238) were distributed into two groups based on their management: an intrathecal catheter (ITC) group in which the epidural catheter was inserted intrathecally and a non-intrathecal catheter (non-ITC) group that received the epidural catheter inserted at different levels of lumbar interspaces. The incidence of PDPH as well as the necessity for epidural blood patch was analyzed using two-tailed Fisher’s exact test. In the non-ITC group, 99 (54 %) parturients developed PDPH in comparison to 20 (37 %) in the ITC [odds ratio (OR), 1.98; 95 % confidence interval (CI), 1.06–3.69; P = 0.03]. Fifty-seven (31 %) of 182 patients in the non-ITC group required an epidural blood patch (EBP) (data for 2 patients of 184 were missing). In contrast, 7 (13 %) of parturients in the ITC group required an EBP. The incidence of EBP was calculated in parturients who actually developed headache to be 57 of 99 (57 %) in the non-ITC group versus 7 of 20 (35 %) in the ITC group (OR, 2.52; 95 % CI, 0.92–6.68; P = 0.07). The insertion of an intrathecal catheter following accidental dural puncture decreases the incidence of PDPH but not the need for epidural blood patch in parturients.     

Subarachnoid catheter placement after wet tap for analgesia in labor: influence on the risk of headache in obstetric patients

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The incidence of postdural puncture headache (PDPH) after epidural wet tap for obstetric patients may be as high as 75%. We have studied how subsequent placement of a subarachnoid catheter immediately after confirmation of a wet tap, and leaving the catheter in place for 24 hours affects the incidence of PDPH. METHODS: Over a 5-year interval, 115 consecutive patients who had unintentional dural puncture were divided into 3 groups by consecutive assignment. Group A had an epidural catheter placed at another interspace. Group B had a subarachnoid catheter placed for labor analgesia that was removed immediately after delivery. Group C had a subarachnoid catheter that was left in place for 24 hours after delivery. Data were collected retrospectively. The incidence of PDPH and blood patch was compared between groups. RESULTS: The overall incidence of PDPH was 46.9% and need for blood patch 36.5%, significantly less in both subarachnoid catheter groups, 31% in B and 3% in group C, compared with group A (PDPH 81%) (P <.001). CONCLUSION: Subarachnoid catheter placement after wet tap in obstetric patients reduces the PDPH rate and does so to a greater extent if left in place for 24 hours after delivery.     

Intrathecal catheter insertion during labour reduces the risk of postdural puncture headache

Purpose

To describe the anaesthetic management and report the incidence of PDPH in three parturients who had experienced accidental durai puncture during labour and the subsequent deliberate intrathecal insertion of an epidural catheter.

Clinical features

Inadvertent durai puncture with a 16-gauge Tuohy needle occurred during the first stage of labour at 3–4 cm cervical dilatation in all three women. The 20-gauge epidural catheter was immediately inserted into the subarachnoid space after accidental durai penetration. Intermittent intrathecal injections of lidocaine or bupivacaine with fentanyl were administered to provide analgesia during labour and delivery. Two of the women had spontaneous vaginal deliveries, whereas Caesarean section was performed in one case due to acute fetal distress during the second stage of labour. The intrathecal catheter was left in-situ for 13–19 hr after delivery and the women were questioned daily for symptoms of PDPH. None of the three women developed PDPH after dural puncture and intrathecal catheterisation with the epidural catheter.

Conclusion

Immediate intrathecal insertion of the epidural catheter after accidental durai puncture during labour proved to be an effective prophylactic technique to prevent PDPH in these three parturients.     

Treatment of accidental dural puncture during obstetric epidural analgesia

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effectiveness of continuous intrathecal analgesia as prophylaxis for postdural puncture headache (PDPH) and for analgesia during labor in 12 patients who suffered accidental dural puncture. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 920 patients who received spinal analgesia during labor were enrolled. Group A (no accidental dural puncture) received a single dose of 10 mL of 0.2% ropivacaine, and 5 minutes later continuous epidural infusion of 0.125% ropivacaine and 3 micromg mL(-1) was started at a rate of a 5 mL h(-1); a 5 mL bolus dose was allowed every 20 minutes if needed. In patients who suffered accidental dural puncture (Group B) we inserted an intrathecal catheter to administer an initial dose of 3 mL of 0.2% ropivacaine and the same analgesic mixture at the same dose as was administered in Group A. Patient characteristics, analgesic efficacy, duration of labor and delivery, motor blockade, analgesic volume, and incidence of PDPH were recorded. The Student t test was used for statistical comparisons. RESULTS: No significant differences in duration of labor and delivery, analgesic efficacy, or motor blockade were observed. The incidence of PDPH was 16.6% in Group B and 0.33% in Group A. The patients in Group B required more additional bolus doses: 10 (SD, 2) in Group B and 3 (1.25) in Group A (P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Continuous intrathecal analgesia after accidental dural puncture was a safe way to provide analgesia during labor and to reduce the expected incidence of PDPH.     

Prevention strategy for post dural puncture headache

We report the anesthetic management of a parturient after an unintentional dural puncture while performing epidural anaesthesia for caesarean section and the strategy to prevent postdural puncture headache (PDPH). We injected the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) back into the subarachnoid space and then administered intrathecal 1.5 mL 0.5% hyperbaric bupivacaine and fentanyl 20 microg to maintain CSF volume via epidural needle. The epidural catheter was inserted following re-identification of the epidural space for possible epidural top-up requirement and postoperative pain relief. After adding 3 mL of 0.5% isobaric bupivacaine via epidural catheter, sensory block level reached at T4 bilaterally. No PDPH was observed.     

Decreased incidence of headache after accidental dural puncture in caesarean delivery patients receiving continuous postoperative intrathecal analgesia

To examine the effects of prolonged (> 24 h) intrathecal catheterization with the use of postoperative analgesia on the incidence of post–dural puncture headache (PDPH), charts of 45 obstetric patients who had accidental dural puncture following attempts at epidural block were reviewed retrospectively. Three groups were identified: Group I (n = 15) patients had a dural puncture on the first attempt at epidural block, but successful epidural block on a repeated attempt; Group II (n=17) patients had a dural puncture with immediate conversion to continuous spinal anaesthesia with catheterization lasting only for the duration of caesarean delivery; Group III (n= 13) patients had an immediate conversion to spinal anaesthesia and received post–caesarean section continuous intrathecal patient–controlled analgesia consisting of fentanyl 5 (ig'ml^-1 with bupivacaine 0.25 mg·ml^-1 and epinephrine 2 μg·ml^-1 with catheterization lasting >24 h. No parturient in group III developed a PDPH. This was substantially lower ( P < 0.009) than the 33% incidence for group I and the 47% incidence for group II. The incidence of a PDPH did not differ between group I and II. Similarly, there was no difference between group I and II with regard to requests for a blood patch. Patients receiving continuous intrathecal analgesia had excellent pain relief, could easily ambulate and none complained of pruritus, nausea, vomiting, sensory loss or weakness. In conclusion, indwelling spinal catheterization > 24 h with continuous intrathecal analgesia following accidental dural puncture in parturients may for some patients be a suitable method for providing PDPH prophylaxis and postoperative analgesia.     

Complications of 761 short-term intrathecal macrocatheters in obstetric patients: a retrospective review of cases over a 12-year period

BackgroundA continuous spinal catheter is a reliable alternative to standard neuraxial techniques in obstetric anesthesia. Despite the potential advantages of intrathecal catheters, they remain underutilized due to fear of infection, nerve damage or post-dural puncture headache. In our tertiary care center, intrathecal catheters are either placed intentionally in high-risk obstetric patients or following inadvertent dural puncture using a 19-gauge macrocatheter passed through a 17-gauge epidural needle.MethodsA retrospective review of 761 intrathecal catheters placed from 2001 to 2012 was conducted. An institutional obstetric anesthesia database was used to identify patients with intrathecal catheters. Medical records were reviewed for procedural details and complications.ResultsThere were no serious complications, including meningitis, epidural or spinal abscess, hematoma, arachnoiditis, or cauda equina syndrome, associated with intrathecal catheters. The failure rates were 2.8% (3/108) for intentional placements and 6.1% (40/653) for placements following accidental dural puncture. The incidence of post-dural puncture headache was 41% (312/761) and the epidural blood patch rate was 31% (97/312).ConclusionsThis review demonstrates that intrathecal catheters are dependable and an option for labor analgesia and surgical anesthesia for cesarean delivery. Serious long-lasting complications are rare.     

Intracranial subdural hematoma following dural puncture in a parturient with HELLP syndrome

PURPOSE: To present a case of postpartum bilateral intracranial subdural hematoma after dural puncture during attempted epidural analgesia for labour. CLINICAL FEATURES: This complication occurred following accidental dural puncture in a parturient with thrombocytopenia (99,000 x microL-1) who subsequently developed the syndrome of hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes and low platelets. On the first postoperative day, postdural puncture headache (PDPH) developed. An epidural blood patch (EBP) was deferred to the third postoperative day because of a platelet count of 21,000 x micro L-1. However, the headache intensified from a typical PDPH to one which was not posturally related. A second EBP was abandoned after the injection of 5 mL of blood because of increasing headache during the procedure. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed bilateral temporal subdural hematomas. The patient was managed conservatively and discharged home without any sequelae. CONCLUSION: It is conceivable that thrombocytopenia together with possible abnormal platelet function increased the risk of subdural hematoma. Alternative diagnoses to PDPH should be considered whenever headache is not posturally related.     

Fluoroscopically guided epidural blood patch in patients with postdural puncture headache after spinal and epidural anesthesia

Postdural puncture headache (PDPH) is one of the major complications after spinal and epidural anesthesia. An epidural blood patch (EBP) may be applied when PDPH persists regardless of conservative treatment. We describe the results of management including fluoroscopically guided EBP in a series of patients with moderate to severe PDPH. From January 2007 to December 2009, PDPH developed in 15 of 3,381 patients (0.44%) who received epidural or spinal anesthesia: 5 (0.21%) after general anesthesia combined with epidural anesthesia, 8 (0.81%) after spinal anesthesia, and 2 (3.14%) after combined spinal and epidural anesthesia. Of 15 patients, PDPH was relieved without the EBP in 9 patients and 6 patients required the EBP. EBP was performed under fluoroscopy in a prone position; a 4:1 mixture of autologous blood and contrast medium was injected to cover the site of dural puncture. The success rate of fluoroscopically guided EBP was 100% with a mean blood volume of 7.2 ml. No complications were associated with EBP except for a mild backache. Fluoroscopically guided EBP may be successfully and safely performed to treat persistent PDPH with a relatively small volume of blood for epidural injection.     

Epidural pressure and postdural puncture headache in the parturient

Forty patients in whom the dura had been punctured accidentally and 10 patients who had received spinal anaesthesia required epidural blood patching for relief of severe postdural puncture headache (PDPH). Before injecting blood, the epidural pressure was measured, using an epidural catheter as a manometer. Mean epidural pressure in the left lateral position was 6.4 cm H(2)O (range 0.5-12 cm H(2)O). Epidural pressure was not related to the size of needle hole or prophylactic infusion of saline into the epidural space. In 5 patients with inadvertent dural tap, there was a statistically significant decrease (P<0.02) in epidural pressure from 14.9 cm H(2)O (range 11-22 cm H(2)O) before PDPH to 6.9 cm H(2)O (range 5-8.5 cm H(2)O) when they developed PDPH. The benefits of performing an epidural blood patch through a catheter placed in the epidural space are discussed.     

Lower extremity radicular pain after prophylactic intrathecal saline injection through a subarachnoid catheter following accidental dural puncture

We describe a case in which severe lower extremity radicular pain occurred after administration of 0.9% saline into the subarachnoid space through a catheter that had been left for 20 h following inadvertent dural puncture in an obstetric patient. A 42-year-old (G8P7) woman was admitted for repeat cesarean delivery. Accidental dural puncture occurred during epidural placement. Following a slow 10-mL intrathecal injection of 0.9% normal saline an epidural catheter was advanced into the subarachnoid space. Spinal anesthesia was used for cesarean delivery and the subarachnoid catheter was kept in place for 20 h. Before catheter removal, an additional 10 mL of 0.9% saline was slowly administered into the intrathecal space. Almost instantly, the patient complained of back pain that progressed to lower extremity radicular pain and paresthesia; symptoms began to resolve after 10 min. Subsequently, the patient developed a postdural puncture headache that persisted for three days. The patient’s radiculitis and paresthesia likely resulted from an acute increase in intrathecal pressure after saline administration or from direct catheter irritation. Although both intrathecal saline administration and subarachnoid catheter placement have been previously proposed as ways to prevent postdural puncture headache, their efficacy remains controversial, and we advise caution with these techniques.     

Post-dural puncture headache in the parturient

Post-dural puncture headache (PDPH) is a common and debilitating complication of central neuraxial blockade in the parturient. The obstetric population is at particular risk with up to 80% of women developing symptoms after accidental dural puncture (ADP) during labour epidural insertion. PDPH typically develops 24–48 hours post puncture and is classically described as an occipito-frontal headache with postural features. Diagnosis and assessment should include consideration of other potential causes of post-partum headache. Initial treatment of PDPH includes adequate hydration and analgesics. Epidural blood patch (EBP) remains the gold standard treatment. It is more successful if performed over 24–48 hours after the development of symptoms. Complete and permanent relief of symptoms following a single EBP occurs in up to one third of cases where headache follows ADP with an epidural needle. Complete or partial relief may be seen in 50–80% overall. Higher success rates are achieved following a second EBP. There is now UK national guidance on the treatment of post dural puncture headache published by the Obstetric Anaesthetists Association (OAA).     

Epidural blood patch for management of postdural puncture headache in adolescents

BACKGROUND: In some patients spinal puncture (SP) is followed by postdural puncture headache (PDPH). When the symptoms of PDPH are severe and are not relieved within a few days an epidural blood patch (EBP) might be performed. The aim of this survey was to review requests for EBPs and to evaluate the effectiveness of EBP in patients aged 13-18 years during a 6.5 year period ending in June 2001. METHODS: The Information System Patient Measures Database was interrogated to identify patients who were referred for EBP. After identification, the patients' medical records were reviewed in detail for the characteristics of PDPH and other symptoms, and for the effectiveness of the EBP. RESULTS: Forty-two EBPs were performed after 40 SPs on 37 patients (24 girls, 13 boys). Epidural blood patches were performed twice in five patients. The reasons for repeating the procedure were repeat SP with new PDPH in three patients and an unsatisfactory effect in two patients. Twenty-eight of the 40 spinal punctures (70%) had been performed for diagnostic use and 10 (25%) for spinal anesthesia. Two patients (5%) developed PDPH after inadvertent dural puncture with an epidural needle. In 37 cases the criteria for PDPH were fulfilled, and one patient had a cerebrospinal fluid fistula headache. Two-thirds of the girls had associated symptoms of headache compared with one-third of the boys. Epidural blood patch was performed 1-22 days after SP with 0.2 ml/kg (mean) of autologous blood injected into the epidural space. The success rate of the first injection was 37 out of 40 EBP (93%), and the second injection was effective in both patients with recurred PDPH. CONCLUSION: Epidural blood patch seems to be an effective and safe procedure in adolescents for treating severe and persistent PDPH.     

Continuous epidural pumping of saline contributes to prevent and treat postdural puncture headache

Study ObjectivePostdural puncture headache (PDPH) is the most common symptom of accidental dural puncture, a frequent complication of intraspinal anesthesia. We developed a postoperative intervention technique to prevent and treat PDPH in accidental dural puncture patients, including epidural pumping of saline. This retrospective study aimed to retrospectively evaluate this new technique for PDPH prevention and treatment.DesignRetrospective study.SettingBeijing Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital affiliated to the Capital Medical University, between January 2006 and December 2012.PatientsEighty-seven cases undergoing intraspinal anesthesia were assessed.InterventionsOf these patients, 68 cases had successful repuncture and were assigned to group A (epidural filling group, n = 68), receiving continuous epidural pumping of 0.9% NS (150 mL) at a rate of 6 mL/h; the remaining cases were assigned to group B (conservative therapy group, n = 19).MeasurementsAge, height, and body weight were collected, and postoperative headache was assessed using a visual analog scale.Main ResultsOf 68 patients in group A, 49 (72.1%) developed PDPH, whereas all in group B developed PDPH (P = .009). In addition, all patients showed PDPH within 3 days after surgery regardless of treatment group. However, a statistically significant difference was obtained for PDPH duration between groups A and B (P < .001). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that frequency of epidural puncture and continuous epidural pumping of saline were significant risk factors for PDPH.ConclusionsOur data indicated that application of 6 mL/h saline effectively contributes to PDPH management, and its clinical application should be broadened.     

The management of accidental dural puncture and postdural puncture headache: a North American survey

Study Objective

To evaluate the management of accidental dural puncture (ADP) and postdural puncture headache (PDPH) among obstetric anesthesiologists practicing in North America.

Design

Questionnaire survey of individual members of the Society for Obstetric Anesthesia and Perinatology (SOAP).

Setting

University hospital.

Measurements

In June 2008, a 4-part, 83-item electronic survey was distributed to all North American members of SOAP. It contained questions about respondent demographics, epidural catheter and intrathecal catheter management after ADP, PDPH management, epidural blood patch (EBP) management, and patient follow-up.

Main Results

Of the 843 United States and Canadian members of SOAP who were surveyed, 160 responses were collected. Respondents reported placing an epidural 75% of the time and an intrathecal catheter 25% of the time following ADP. Common prophylactic and conservative treatment strategies included hydration, caffeine, and opioids by mouth; 76% of respondents leave an intrathecal catheter in place for 24 hours to reduce the frequency of headache. Epidural blood patches are placed by 81% of practitioners less than 24 hours after headache onset.

Conclusions

Protocols for ADP management are rare. There is wide variation in catheter management after dural puncture, measures used to prevent and treat a resultant headache, and EBP management.     

PDPH is a common complication of neuraxial blockade in parturients: a meta-analysis of obstetrical studies

PURPOSE: Postdural puncture headache (PDPH) is an iatrogenic complication of neuraxial blockade. We systematically reviewed the literature on parturients to determine the frequency, onset, and duration of PDPH. METHODS: Citations on PDPH in the obstetrical population were identified by computerized searches, citation review, and hand searches of abstracts and conference proceedings. Citations were included if they contained extractable data on frequency, onset, or duration of PDPH. Using meta-analysis, we calculated pooled estimates of the frequency of accidental dural puncture for epidural needles and pooled estimates of the frequencies of PDPH for epidural and spinal needles. RESULTS: Parturients have approximately a 1.5% [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.5% to 1.5%) risk of accidental dural puncture with epidural insertion. Of these, approximately half (52.1%; 95% CI, 51.4% to 52.8%) will result in PDPH. The risk of PDPH from spinal needles diminishes with small diameter, atraumatic needles, but is still appreciable (Whitacre 27-gauge needle 1.7%; 95% CI, 1.6% to 1.8%). PDPH occurs as early as one day and as late as seven days after dural puncture and lasts 12 hr to seven days. CONCLUSION: PDPH is a common complication for parturients undergoing neuraxial blockade.     

Decreased incidence of headache after unintentional dural puncture in patients with cesarean delivery administered with postoperative epidural analgesia

Purpose  To investigate how subsequent placement of a catheter into the epidural space after unintentional dural puncture for postoperative analgesia for 36–72 h affected the incidence of post-dural puncture headache (PDPH). Methods  The records of 52 parturients who had had accidental dural puncture in cesarean delivery were reviewed. The parturients were assigned to two groups. Twenty-eight parturients were assigned to the study group, in whom an epidural catheter was inserted and was used for anesthesia and postoperative analgesia. Twenty-four parturients were assigned to the control group, in whom spinal anesthesia (n = 20) or general anesthesia (n = 4) was applied. For postoperative analgesia in patients with incision pain above visual analog scale (VAS) 3, 3 mg morphine in 15 ml saline was administered through the epidural catheter in the study group, while intramuscular meperidine or tramadol was administered in the control group. Once PDPH was observed, conservative treatment was tried first. If the headache persisted despite conservative treatment, an epidural blood patch was applied through the catheter or a reinserted epidural needle. Results  The study group demonstrated significant reduction of the incidence of PDPH and reduction in the indication for an epidural blood patch compared to the control group (7.1% vs 58% [P = 0.000] and 3.6% vs 37.5% [P = 0.002], respectively). Conclusion  Subsequent catheter placement into the epidural space after unintentional dural puncture in cesarean delivery and leaving the catheter for postoperative analgesia for 36–72 h may reduce the incidence of PDPH.