Revista española de anestesiología y reanimación
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Rev Esp Anestesiol Reanim · Apr 2010
Case Reports[Epidural blood patch to treat severe postdural puncture headache after ambulatorysurgery].
We report a case of postdural puncture headache (PDPH) after outpatient hysteroscopy under spinal anesthesia in which a 25-gauge Whitacre needle was used. Symptoms of PDPH appeared 6 hours after surgery. The headache improved with oral caffein and intravenous corticosteroids and the patient was discharged after 24 hours. ⋯ Within 12 hours the incapacitating symptoms had improved markedly and resolution was complete 2 months after surgery. PDPH worthy of blood patch treatment is a rare complication of spinal anesthesia with pencil-point needles. Clear diagnostic protocols are required if satisfactory treatment is not to be delayed and unnecessary suffering is to be prevented.