Srp Ark Celok Lek
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The most frequent complication of lumbar puncture is headache. It is due to lowered intracranial tension produced by a continued leakage of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) through the dural puncture site. Epidural injection of autologous blood has been frequently reported as highly effective in the treatment of lumbar-puncture-induced headache, with success rates of 73 to 98%. ⋯ We have not observed any side-effects in our patients. Our results are in harmony with the published high efficiencies of autologous epidural blood patch in the treatment of postlumbar-puncture headache. We recommend the injection of 5 ml of autologous blood in the epidural space in all patients with severe lumbar-puncture-induced headache, resistant to conservative therapy, lasting more than 24-48 hours.