African journal of medicine and medical sciences
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Postdural puncture headache remains a major complication of subarachnoid anaesthesia that bothers the anaesthetist and the young mother. Identification of factors that may affect PDPH after caesarean section under subarachnoid anaesthesia could be critical to policy formulation in an emerging obstetric anaesthesia unit. All patients who had caesarean section under subarachnoid anaesthesia were evaluated in a cross-sectional manner. ⋯ Successful dural puncture was achieved on first attempt in 42.0% (n = 47) of the patients. The PDPH was mainly occipital for most of the women, starting on postoperative day 2 and relieved with liberal fluids and paracetamol. Maternal experience of their caesarean section with spinal anaesthesia was satisfactory in 77.8% (n = 21) of patients and 63% (n = 17) would recommend the technique to other women.