Successful treatment of post-dural-puncture headache with surgical dura repair two years after spinal anesthesia. (November 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Pouskoulas, Christos D; Taub, Ethan; Ruppen, Wilhelm
• Is Part Of: Cephalalgia. Volume 33:Number 15(2013)
• Page Start: 1269
• Page End: 1271
• Publication Date: 2013-11
• Subjects: Post-dural-puncture headache -- dura repair -- blood patch -- radionuclide cisternography; Headache -- Periodicals; 616.8491
• DOI: 10.1177/0333102413490348
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0333-1024

Abstract

Background: Post-dural-puncture headache (PDPH) can be a highly disturbing complication of elective spinal anesthesia. The incidence of PDPH when small needles are used is estimated to be 0%–14.5%. PDPH usually resolves spontaneously within a few days, but there are rare cases that persist in spite of conventional and epidural blood patch therapy. Case: A 59-year-old man suffered from persistent postural headache for more than two years after an otherwise uneventful spinal anesthesia. Conventional and minimally invasive treatments were unsuccessful. Intervention/outcome: A neurosurgical procedure was performed, during which a dural leak was identified and repaired. The patient was immediately pain free after surgery and has remained so for the duration of follow-up (more than one year).