Lower Glucose Level Associated With Increased Risk for Post-Dural Puncture Headache.

OBJECTIVE AND BACKGROUND: Post-dural puncture headache is the most common significant adverse event following lumbar puncture. In this study, we investigated the possible systemic factors associated with risk for post-dural puncture headache (PDPH). METHODS: We performed a retrospective cohort study in 969 patients who underwent diagnostic lumbar puncture following a standardized protocol. We compared the clinical and laboratory profiles of the post-dural puncture headache group and non-headache group. We also identified independent factors associated with the incidence of post-dural puncture headache. RESULTS: A total of 48 patients (5%) reported headache; 12 of these patients (25%) received a therapeutic epidural blood patch and the remaining 36 patients improved with conservative treatment. After adjusting for other variables that could be related to PDPH, we found that the development of post lumbar puncture headache was independently associated with age (OR: 0.97, 95% CI: 0.95-0.99, P = .001) and serum glucose levels (OR: 0.98, 95% CI: 0.97-0.99, P = .008).When the patients were classified by age, serum glucose levels were persistently lower in patients with PDPH vs those patients without PDPH in all age groups, with more clearly significant differences observed in the elderly (age <30 years, 103.4 mg/dL vs 106.3 mg/dL, P = .716; >60 years, 111.8 mg/dL vs 137.3 mg/dL, P = .023). CONCLUSIONS: Low glucose levels were inversely associated with risk for post-dural puncture headache. Patients with low serum glucose should be carefully monitored for headache after lumbar puncture.

Cancer Seeding Risk from an Epidural Blood Patch in Patients with Leukemia or Lymphoma.

Introduction: Lumber punctures are a common procedure in patients with cancer. However, a potential complication of a lumbar puncture is a postdural puncture headache. The risk of neoplastic seeding to the central nervous system has led to concern over performing epidural blood patches (EBPs) for the treatment of postdural puncture headaches in patients with cancer. The goal of this retrospective study was to evaluate cancer seeding in the central nervous system in patients diagnosed with leukemia or lymphoma. Methods: Institutional electronic records were queried over a 13-year period from 2000 to 2013 for patients with leukemia and/or lymphoma and who received at least one EBP. Demographic and procedural data, cancer treatments, and mortality were all examined. Patient records were reviewed for evidence of new-onset neoplastic central nervous system seeding after an epidural blood patch. Results: A total of 80 patients were identified for review. Eighteen patients had a diagnosis of leukemia, and 62 had lymphoma. Following an EBP, none of the patients experienced new cancer or cancer seeding in the central nervous system following an epidural blood patch at a median follow-up of 3.74 years. Discussion: Though the risks of EBP in the cancer patient population have been hypothesized, no previous studies have assessed the risk of seeding cancer to the central nervous system. Based on our results, an epidural blood patch bears low risk of cancer seeding when used to treat postdural puncture headache that is unresponsive to conservative treatments.

Cervical epidural blood patch--A literature review.

OBJECTIVE: Epidural blood patches (EBP) are rarely performed at the cervical levels, primarily due to fear of neurological complications such as spinal cord compression. We reviewed the literature to provide an evidence-based review of performance of cervical EBPs, with a specific focus on indication, technique, safety, and efficacy. DESIGN: A comprehensive electronic literature search was done to include studies that reported on performance of cervical EBPs in patients with CSF leak at the cervical level. Data regarding indication, level of CSF leak, level of cervical EBP, volume of blood used, efficacy, and complications were collected. RESULTS: A total of 15 studies, reporting on 19 patients were included. All patients presented with a headache that increased in the standing position, and improved in the supine position. All patients were identified to have a CSF leak at the cervical level. Eight patients first underwent a lumbar EBP, without complete, long-term relief. All these patients, along with 11 patients who did not undergo a lumbar EPB prior to cervical EBP, reported complete, long-term pain relief. EBPs were mostly done in the prone position, using imaging guidance. An average of 5-8 mL of autologous blood was injected in the epidural space. No major neurological complications were reported in any patient. CONCLUSION: The review suggests that cervical EBP can be performed for cervical CSF leaks associated with positional headache without a significant risk of serious adverse events. CLASSIFICATION OF EVIDENCE: Our review provides Class II level of evidence that cervical EBPs are safe and effective in reliving positional headache due to CSF leak.

Lower incidence of post-dural puncture headache with spinal catheterization after accidental dural puncture in obstetric patients.

BACKGROUND: Accidental dural puncture (ADP) and post-dural puncture headache (PDPH) are important complications of obstetric regional anesthesia. Inserting the catheter intrathecally after ADP to prevent PDPH has gained popularity. Nonetheless, data on the effect of an intrathecal catheter on PDPH and epidural blood patch (EBP) rates are mixed. Our primary objective was to examine if spinal catheterization reduces the incidence of PDPH after ADP in obstetric patients. METHODS: Anesthetic records of 29,749 regional blocks performed between January 1997 and July 2013 were analyzed retrospectively. In all blocks containing an epidural component, 18-gauge epidural needles were used. All patients who experienced a witnessed ADP or PDPH without ADP were identified. Data from patients with or without a prolonged spinal catheter were compared. RESULTS: There were 128 events of witnessed ADP (0.43%). Following known ADP, 39 women had an epidural catheter placed at a different level and 89 had an intrathecal catheter (20-gauge) for at least 24 h. Sixty-one patients developed PDPH after observed ADP (48%). Prolonged intrathecal catheter placement significantly reduced the incidence of PDPH after ADP to 42% compared with 62% in those who have the catheter re-sited epidurally [odds ratio = 2.3 (95% confidence interval 1.04-4.86); P = 0.04]. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of ADP, PDPH and blood patching is similar with previously published studies. After witnessed ADP, inserting the epidural catheter intrathecally significantly reduced the incidence of PDPH.

Management of accidental dural puncture and post-dural puncture headache after labour: a Nordic survey.

BACKGROUND: a major risk with epidural analgesia is accidental dural puncture (ADP), which may result in post-dural puncture headache (PDPH). This survey was conducted to explore the incidence of ADP, the policy for management of PDPH and the educational practices in epidural analgesia during labour in the Nordic countries. METHODS: a postal questionnaire was sent to the anaesthesiologist responsible for Obstetric anaesthesia service in all maternity units (n=153) with questions relating to the year 2008. RESULTS: the overall response rate was 93%. About 32% (22-47%) of parturients received epidural analgesia for labour. There were databases for registering obstetric epidural complications in 13% of Danish, 24% of Norwegian and Swedish, 43% of Finnish and 100% of hospitals in Iceland. The estimated incidence of ADP was 1% (n approximately 900). Epidural blood patch (EBP) was performed in 86% (n≈780) of the parturients. The most common time interval from diagnosis to performing EBP was 24-48 h. The success rate for EBP was >75% in 67% (62-79%) of hospitals. The use of diagnostic CT/MRI before the first or the second EBP was exceptional. No major complication was reported. Teaching of epidurals was commonest (86%) in the non-obstetric population and 53% hospitals desired a formal training programme in obstetric analgesia. CONCLUSION: we found the incidence of ADP to be approximately 1%. EBP was the commonest method used for its management, and the success rate was high in most hospitals. Formal training in epidural analgesia was absent in most countries and trainees first performed it in the non-obstetric population.

Evaluation of the effectiveness and tolerance of tetracosactide in the treatment of post-dural puncture headaches (ESYBRECHE): a study protocol for a randomised controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Post-dural puncture headache (PDPH) is one of the most common complications of neuraxial anaesthesia. It limits patients' general activity and increases the length of hospital stays and the use of care. It is particularly disabling during the postpartum period, when mothers have to take care of their child. Epidural blood patch is the standard treatment for PDPH. However, it is an invasive procedure that may result in rare but serious complications. Recent evidence has suggested that adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) is effective in the management of PDPH. The aim of this study is to assess the efficacy and safety of tetracosactide (Synacthen®), a synthetic analogue of ACTH, for PDPH treatment in patients who receive neuraxial anaesthesia during labour. METHODS: This randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-arm trial, is performed in two French university hospitals. Eligible patients are those suffering from postpartum PDPH, who are randomised to receive either 1 mg of tetracosactide intravenously over 20 min or to 0.9% saline (placebo). The primary endpoint is the rate of epidural blood patch within a 15-day follow-up period. Headache duration, pain intensity, reduction of general activity, increase in length of hospital stay, adverse events, analgesic use (type and duration) and number of blood patches per patient in each group are recorded. DISCUSSION: We expect a decrease in the use of epidural blood patch in those receiving tetracosactide, thus indicating a decrease in PDPH symptoms in these patients. This will define the therapeutic success of tetracosactide and the possibility to use this treatment as a non-invasive alternative to blood patch for PDPH treatment. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Primary Registry ClinicalTrials.gov Protocol Registration and Results System Date of Registration 24 June 2016 Unique Protocol ID 69HCL15_0429 Secondary IDs EudraCT Number 2015-003357-17 ClinicalTrials.gov ID NCT02813655 ANSM 160214A-31 Protocol version V4 28/09/2018.

Postdural puncture headache in complex regional pain syndrome: a retrospective observational study.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the unusual course of postdural puncture headache (PDPH) after pump implantation for intrathecal baclofen (ITB) administration in patients with complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS)-related dystonia. DESIGN: Case series based on data collected from 1996 to 2005. Setting. Movement disorders clinic, university hospital. PATIENTS: A total of 54 patients with CRPS-related dystonia who were treated with ITB. RESULTS: A high incidence (76%) and prolonged course (median 18 days, range 2 days to 36 months) of PDPH was found. Radionuclide studies performed in two patients with long-lasting symptoms (12-16 months) did not reveal cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leakage. In patients without signs of CSF leakage (N = 38), epidural blood patches administered in 24 patients were effective in 54%, while ketamine infusions administered in six patients were effective in 67%. CONCLUSIONS: Our observations may suggest that other mechanisms besides intracranial hypotension play a role in the initiation and maintenance of PDPH in CRPS and stimulate new directions of research on this topic.

Insertion of an intrathecal catheter following a recognised accidental dural puncture reduces the need for an epidural blood patch in parturients: an Australian retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: There is no clear consensus about how best to prevent post-dural puncture headache (PDPH) following an accidental dural puncture in parturients. Our primary objective was to investigate whether the insertion of an intrathecal catheter following accidental dural puncture reduces the incidence of PDPH and therapeutic epidural blood patch. METHODS: Anaesthetic records from January 2009 to December 2015 were reviewed retrospectively and parturients who had an accidental dural puncture and/or PDPH were identified. Data from those with a recognised dural puncture in whom an intrathecal catheter was inserted at the time of accidental dural puncture (ITC group) were compared to those without an intrathecal catheter (non-ITC group), as were outcomes of patients with an intrathecal catheter for ≥24 hours compared to <24 hours. RESULTS: Of 94 recognised accidental dural punctures, 66 were in the ITC group (37 for ≥24 h) and 28 in the non-ITC group. In the ITC group, 22 (33.3%) required an epidural blood patch in comparison to 19 (67.9%) in the non-ITC group (P <0.01, 95% CI 12.5 to 52.0). In the ITC group, 62 (93.9%) developed PDPH in comparison to 28 (100%) in the non-ITC group (P=0.186, 95% CI -6.55 to 14.57). Intrathecal catheter insertion for ≥24 h obviated the need for an epidural blood patch in 28 (75.7%) parturients, compared to 13 (59.1%) if <24 h (P=0.184, 95% CI -7.08 to 39.72). CONCLUSION: Inserting an intrathecal catheter after a recognised accidental dural puncture significantly reduced the need for an epidural blood patch.

Posttraumatic Cerebrospinal Fluid Leak Associated with an Upper Cervical Meningeal Diverticulum.

BACKGROUND: Spontaneous intracranial hypotension (SIH) has been increasingly recognized as a phenomenon caused by cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leaks; however, its pathogenesis remains unclear. CASE DESCRIPTION: We report 2 cases of SIH resulting from CSF leak from a meningeal diverticulum at the C2 nerve root sleeve. The first case is that of a 46-year-old man who experienced orthostatic headache after a bicycle accident at age 45. Computed tomography (CT) myelography revealed CSF leaks at the C1-2 level. He underwent epidural blood patch therapy, but it was unsuccessful. Next, we performed direct surgery and found a meningeal diverticulum originating from the left C2 nerve root; therefore, we ligated the diverticulum. His symptoms and image findings strikingly improved after surgery. The second case is that of a 45-year-old man who experienced orthostatic headache 1 month after jumping into a river. Magnetic resonance imaging of the head showed bilateral subdural hematoma. CT myelography revealed CSF leaks at the C1-2 level and multiple cyst formations at the cervical and thoracic nerve root sleeves. epidural blood patch was performed, and his symptoms immediately improved. CONCLUSIONS: Recent studies have reported that meningeal diverticulum is involved in various cases of CSF leaks. The 2 cases indicate that traumatic accidents, such as back-and-forth neck movement or falls, presumably induce an increase in CSF pressure, followed by the rupture of an existing meningeal diverticulum, leading to CSF leak.

The effect of second-stage pushing and body mass index on postdural puncture headache.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To explore how pushing during labor and body mass index affect the development of postdural puncture headache in parturients who experienced dural puncture with Tuohy needles. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort. SETTING: Obstetric ward and operating rooms at a university-affiliated hospital. PATIENTS: One hundred ninety parturients who had witnessed dural puncture with 17 or 18 gauge Tuohy needles from 1999-2014. INTERVENTIONS: Patients were categorized by pushing status and body mass index (kg/m2): nonobese <30, obese 30-39.99, morbidly obese 40-49.99, and super obese ≥50. MEASUREMENTS: Headache, number of days of headache, maximum headache score, and epidural blood patch placement. MAIN RESULTS: Compared with women who did not push, women who pushed during labor had increased risk of postdural puncture headache (odds ratio [OR], 2.1 [1.1-4.0]; P=.02), more days of headache (P=.02), and increased epidural blood patch placement (P=.02). Super obese patients were less likely to develop headache compared with nonobese (OR, 0.33 [0.13-0.85]; P=.02), obese (OR, 0.37 [0.14-0.98]; P=.045], and morbidly obese patients (OR, 0.20 [0.05-0.68]; P<.01). In a multivariate logistic regression model, lack of pushing (OR, 0.57 [0.29-1.10]; P=.096) and super obesity (OR, 0.41 [0.16-1.02]; P=.056] were no longer significantly associated with reduced risk of postdural puncture headache. CONCLUSIONS: Parturients who did not push before delivery and parturients with body mass index ≥50kg/m2 were less likely to develop postdural puncture headache in a univariate analysis. Similar trends were demonstrated in a multivariate model, but were no longer statistically significant.

A retrospective review of an epidural blood patch database: the incidence of epidural blood patch associated with obstetric neuraxial anesthetic techniques and the effect of blood volume on efficacy.

BACKGROUND: The optimal volume of blood required to treat post-dural puncture headache remains in question. In our institution a target volume of 30mL is used for an epidural blood patch unless the patient experiences pain during injection. METHODS: The institutional database was retrospectively reviewed for epidural blood patch and delivery statistics over a 15-year period to determine if the volume of blood administered during the procedure directly correlated with the number of epidural blood patches administered. The primary endpoint was defined as the need for a repeat epidural blood patch. RESULTS: There were 466 epidural blood patches performed on 394 patients, associated with 84 804 obstetric neuraxial procedures. Thirty-two percent (95% CI 28.3 to 34.9%) of patients who had an inadvertent dural puncture with an epidural needle received an epidural blood patch versus 0.19% (0.16% to 0.22%) of patients who received neuraxial anesthesia with no documented dural puncture with an epidural needle. All patients experienced relief of post-dural puncture headache, although 17% required two and 1.5% required three epidural blood patches. The mean±SD volume of blood administered was 20.5±5.4mL and only 35 patients (8.9%) received 30mL. CONCLUSION: Increasing blood volumes up to 30mL did not reduce the need for repeat epidural blood patch. Although the optimal volume of blood to administer during epidural blood patch placement remains unknown, our institution will continue to administer up to 30mL or until the patient experiences pain during epidural injection.

Nine-year audit of post-dural puncture headache in a tertiary obstetric hospital in Singapore.

BACKGROUND: The KK Women's and Children's Hospital is a tertiary obstetric unit with approximately 11000 deliveries per year. Epidural analgesia is used in about 40% of laboring women. We reviewed the incidence and management of post-dural puncture headache over a nine-year period. METHODS: A retrospective audit of labor epidural analgesia database records from 1 June 2005 to 31 May 2014 was conducted, identifying an "event" as an accidental dural puncture, an inadvertent intrathecal catheter insertion and/or development of a post-dural puncture headache. RESULTS: A total of 43434 epidural records were reviewed. Sixty-three events were identified (an incidence of 0.15%). Women had median age of 30years and median body mass index of 27.6kg/m2; 69.8% (44/63) delivered vaginally. Procedures performed by less experienced anesthesiologists and those performed outside office hours were associated with a higher incidence of accidental dural puncture. An intrathecal catheter was inserted in 52 of 58 women (89.7%). Headache developed in 24 of 38 (63.1%) women in whom there was a witnessed accidental dural puncture. Most women who developed post-dural puncture headache presented during the primary admission (36/39; 92.3%). Paracetamol and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs were the most commonly prescribed medications. Six women (9.5%) received an epidural blood patch which led to resolution of headache. CONCLUSION: A retrospective audit over a nine-year period at a tertiary teaching hospital found the overall incidence of post-dural puncture headache and associated events to be 0.15%, with a decreasing trend coinciding with improvement in the teaching and supervision of trainees in labor epidural procedures.

Accidental Dural Puncture Management: 10-Year Experience at an Academic Tertiary Care Center.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The use of spinal catheters for extended periods after accidental dural puncture (ADP) and administration of intrathecal saline via spinal catheters have been advocated to decrease the incidence of postdural puncture headache and the subsequent need for epidural blood patch (EBP), with mixed results observed. METHODS: We reviewed the medical records of 218 patients with ADP who either had the epidural resited or had a spinal catheter (with or without the administration of intrathecal saline). We compared the incidence of headache and the need for blood patch between these groups. We also assessed complications when a standard lidocaine epidural test dose was administered intrathecally and compared this with complications when a solution normally used for labor combined spinal epidurals was administered. RESULTS: There was no difference in the incidence of postdural puncture headache between the resited epidural group and the spinal catheter group, 68.0% versus 55.9% (odds ratio [OR], 1.7; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 1.0-2.9; P = 0.07). Resiting the epidural catheter was associated with a significant increase in the number of EBPs when compared with using a spinal catheter, 52.0% versus 20.3% (OR, 4.2; 95% CI, 2.4-7.6; P < 0.001) and when compared with spinal catheters with intrathecal saline, 52.0% versus 8.1% (OR, 12.3; 95% CI, 4.3-35.4; P < 0.001). There was a significant difference in the number of blood patches between normal body mass index patients and morbidly obese patients, 55.2% versus 25.0% (OR, 3.7; 95% CI, 1.2-11.2; P = 0.02). Complications (hypotension prompting pressors, high spinal, and emergency cesarean delivery because of nonreassuring fetal status) occurred more frequently when a lidocaine test dose was immediately administered after ADP versus administering a labor combined spinal epidural solution. CONCLUSIONS: Insertion of spinal catheters after ADP and administration of intrathecal normal saline via spinal catheters reduce the need for EBP compared with resiting the epidural. Administration of the standard epidural test dose intrathecally is associated with frequent and significant complications.

Incidence of epidural blood patch following obstetric regional analgesia in private Australian anaesthetic practice.

BACKGROUND: Collection of audit data about epidural blood patches has traditionally relied on voluntary reporting, which is notoriously incomplete. The records of Medicare-funded Australian private obstetric practice, which represents 30% of all deliveries, allow a novel method of central data collection and retrieval. METHOD: Data relating to all deliveries, epidurals and blood patches in private practice in Australia over a two-year period were retrieved from the Health Insurance Commission. RESULTS: The overall rate of epidural analgesia in labour was estimated at 30% and the proportion of epidurals that progressed to blood patching was 0.35%. The rate of epidural blood patching varied between states from 0.18% to 0.56%. CONCLUSION: Despite certain limitations of our data interpretation, we regard this technique as a useful audit tool capable of generating accurate and robust audit data that might otherwise be unobtainable.

Retrospective study of epidural blood patch use for spontaneous intracranial hypotension.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Spontaneous intracranial hypotension (SIH) is characterized by a severe and disabling headache that is usually orthostatic in nature. Cisternography is a useful diagnostic test for evaluating the presence and location of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leakage, and a targeted epidural blood patch (EBP) based on the cisternography findings is a very effective treatment modality for SIH. However, the effects of EBPs are not predictable, making repeat EBPs essential in some cases. The aim of the present study was to find the relationship between the EBP response and cisternographic findings, hypothesizing that the number of required EBPs would increase with an increased number of CSF leakage levels as determined by radionuclide cisternography. METHODS: All patients who underwent an EBP and had been discharged with significant improvements in symptoms of SIH during 2006 to 2011 were enrolled. Patients who had no radionuclide cisternographic results were excluded. The demographic variables, number of EBPs, cisternographic findings (location, bilaterality, and number of leakage sites), and preprocedural and postprocedural pain scores were reviewed. RESULTS: There was no correlation found between the cisternographic findings and the number of EBPs. Only the preprocedural pain scores showed a statistically significant correlation with the number of EBPs. CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggests that the response to the EBP is related to the severity of symptoms but not to the number and locations of cisternographic CSF leakages.

Changing the needle for lumbar punctures: results from a prospective study.

OBJECTIVE: Post-dural puncture headache (PDPH) is a common complication of diagnostic lumbar punctures. Both a non-cutting needle design and the use of smaller size needles have been shown to greatly reduce the risk of PDPH. Nevertheless, larger cutting needles are still widely used. This study describes the process of changing the needle in an outpatient clinic of a Danish neurology department. METHODS: Prospective interventional trial. Phase 1: 22G cutting needle. Phase 2: 25G non-cutting needle. Practical usability of each needle was recorded during the procedure, while the rate of PDPH and the occurrence of socioeconomic complications were acquired from a standardized questionnaire. RESULTS: 651 patients scheduled for diagnostic lumbar punctures were screened for participation and 501 patients were included. The response rate was 80% in both phases. In phase 2, significant reductions were observed in occurrence of PDPH (21 vs. 50, p=0.001), number of days spent away from work (55 vs. 175, p<0.001), hospitalizations (2 vs. 17, p<0.001), and number of bloodpatch treatments (2 vs. 10, p=0.019). Furthermore, during the procedure, both the need for multiple attempts (30% vs. 44%, p=0.001), and the failure-rate of the first operator (17% vs. 29%, p=0.005) were reduced. CONCLUSIONS: Our study showed that smaller, non-cutting needles reduce the incidence of PDPH and are easily implemented in an outpatient clinic. Changing the needle resulted in fewer socioeconomic complications and fewer overall costs, while also reducing procedural difficulty.

A prospective controlled study of continuous spinal analgesia versus repeat epidural analgesia after accidental dural puncture in labour.

BACKGROUND: After accidental dural puncture in labour it is suggested that inserting an intrathecal catheter and converting to spinal analgesia reduces postdural puncture headache and epidural blood patch rates. This treatment has never been tested in a controlled manner. METHODS: Thirty-four hospitals were randomised to one of two protocols for managing accidental dural puncture during attempted labour epidural analgesia: repeating the epidural procedure or converting to spinal analgesia by inserting the epidural catheter intrathecally. Hospitals changed protocols at six-month intervals for two years. RESULTS: One hundred and fifteen women were recruited but 18 were excluded from initial analysis because of practical complications which had the potential to affect the incidence of headache and blood patch rates. Of the remaining 97 women, 47 were assigned to the repeat epidural group and 50 to the spinal analgesia group. Conversion to spinal analgesia did not reduce the incidence of postdural puncture headache (spinal 72% vs. epidural 62%, P=0.2) or blood patch (spinal 50% vs. epidural 55%, P=0.6). Binary logistic analysis revealed the relative risk of headache increased with 16-gauge vs. 18-gauge epidural needles (RR=2.21, 95% CI 1.4-2.6, P=0.005); anaesthetist inexperience (RR=1.02 per year difference in experience, 95% CI 1.001-1.05, P=0.043), and spontaneous vaginal compared to caesarean delivery (RR=1.58, 95% CI 1.14-1.79, P=0.02). These same factors also increased the risk of a blood patch: 16-gauge vs. 18-gauge needles (RR=2.92, 95% CI 1.37-3.87, P=0.01), anaesthetist inexperience (RR=1.06 per year difference in experience, 95% CI 1.02-1.09, P=0.006), spontaneous vaginal versus caesarean delivery (RR=2.22, 95% CI 1.47-2.63, P=0.002). When all patients were included for analysis of complications, there was a significantly greater requirement for two or more additional attempts to establish neuraxial analgesia associated with repeating the epidural (41% vs. 12%, P=0.0004) and a 9% risk of second dural puncture. CONCLUSIONS: Converting to spinal analgesia after accidental dural puncture did not reduce the incidence of headache or blood patch, but was associated with easier establishment of neuraxial analgesia for labour. The most significant factor increasing headache and blood patch rates was the use of a 16-gauge compared to an 18-gauge epidural needle.

The management of accidental dural puncture during labour epidural analgesia: a survey of UK practice.

The management of accidental dural puncture and postdural puncture headache in obstetric practice continues to be of great interest. This survey aims to explore the current management of this complication in the United Kingdom and compares the findings to a similar survey undertaken in 1993. A postal questionnaire was sent to all maternity units (n = 248). The return rate was 71%. Of these, 144 units (85%) now have written guidelines for the management of accidental dural puncture compared to 58% in 1993. In 47 units (28%), the epidural catheter is now routinely placed intrathecally following accidental dural puncture; in 69 units (41%) the catheter is re-sited and in the remaining 53 units (31%) either option is allowed. This is in contrast to the previous survey, which found that catheters were re-sited in 99% of units. Only 31 units (18%) now limit the second stage of labour and 19 (11%) avoid pushing and deliver by ventouse or forceps, whilst 116 units (69%) allow labour to take place without any intervention. Only 44 units (26%) now treat postdural puncture headache with an epidural blood patch as soon as it is diagnosed, whereas in 120 units (71%) the blood patch is performed only after failure of conservative measures. Due to the large increase in the use of the intrathecal catheter following this complication, a follow-up questionnaire was posted 5 months later to those units (n = 99) that reported this practice in the initial survey, with a 94% response rate. The two most commonly cited reasons for intrathecal catheterisation were to avoid further dural puncture (76%) and to allow immediate analgesia for labour (75%).

Diagnostic lumbar puncture. Comparative study between 22-gauge pencil point and sharp bevel needle.

Post-lumbar puncture headache is a frequent clinical problem. Needle design is expected to reduce post-puncture headache. In this study, we compared two different lumbar puncture needle designs in diagnostic lumbar puncture and analysed post-dural puncture headache (PDPH) and social and economical harm associated with the diagnostic lumbar puncture procedure. This prospective, controlled study consisted of 80 consecutive adult patients requiring elective diagnostic lumbar puncture due to various neurological symptoms. Lumbar puncture was completed either with Spinocan 22 G sharp bevel needle or Whitacre 22G pencil point needle. Patients were asked about previous headache symptoms and pain provoked by puncture. One week after the lumbar puncture all patients were interviewed by telephone and occurrence and type of headache, headache intensity, medication and frequency of impairment in activities of daily living were asked. Need for epidural blood patch was also recorded. Thirty-three of 78 (42%) patients experienced headache after diagnostic lumbar puncture and in 26 (33%) the headache could be classified as PDPH. There were no statistically significant differences between needle types in the frequency of common headache, PDPH, puncture pain intensity, need for epidural blood patch or sick leave. Also, there were no other complications except local back pain or headache. In this study, the needle design did not affect the frequency of PDPH. Also, PDPH was common, occurring in 33% cases and caused a considerable amount of disturbance in daily activities. Seeking help for this condition was insufficient and only part of these PDPH patients were treated with epidural blood patch.