Post-Dural Puncture Headache

Post-dural puncture headache (PDPH) is a common and debilitating complication of spinal anesthesia in pregnant patients undergoing cesarean sections, with an incidence ranging from 0.5% to 2% (1). The International Headache Society (IHS) defines PDPH as a headache occurring within 4 days of a lumbar puncture, caused by cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leakage through the dural puncture (2). Although the exact cause of PDPH is not fully understood, it is thought to occur due to cerebrospinal fluid loss through dural tears, which leads to tension on pain-sensitive intracranial structures and reflex, uncontrolled cerebral vasodilation leading to severe agonizing tension headache (3). Treatment options include proper hydration, maintaining a supine position, caffeine, paracetamol, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Many adjuvants have been questioned for their therapeutic effectiveness in enhancing conservative medical treatments, with conflicting results (4). For example, sumatriptan, theophylline and dexmedetomidine have been extensively studied. Neostigmine has emerged as a promising pharmacological adjuvant for conservative management. Neostigmine increases the serum level of acetylcholine via inhibition of cholinesterase (5). This action mediates cerebral vasoconstriction via nicotinic receptors, thus antagonizing the unopposed vasodilatation occurred due to dural tear. Lidocaine, on the other hand, can mediate sphenopalatine ganglion block which is responsible for pain signals transmission from the face (6).

The aim of this study is to compare the safety and efficacy of theophylline, sumatriptan, and gabapentin in the treatment of post-dural puncture headache.

Some patients develop headache after spinal anesthesia used during cesarean section. This condition is called post-dural puncture headache (PDPH). Early identification of patients at risk may improve patient care. This study evaluates whether optic nerve sheath diameter (ONSD), measured using a non-invasive bedside ocular ultrasound technique, can help predict the development of PDPH. Participants undergoing cesarean section with spinal anesthesia will undergo ONSD measurements at predefined perioperative time points. Participants will be followed postoperatively for the occurrence of headache. The findings may help improve early recognition and management of PDPH.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate Neostigmine and Glycopyrrolate to treat post-dural puncture headache (PDPH) to reduce the proportion of postpartum women with a PDPH requiring epidural blood patch (EBP) who developed a PDPH after accidental dural puncture.

Post-dural puncture headache (PDPH) is an iatrogenic complication following a dural puncture, which may occur after lumbar puncture, spinal or epidural anesthesia. These headaches are defined as positional headaches, which worsen in the upright position and improve in the supine position, occurring within 5 days after a dural puncture. PDPH is disabling, particularly in the postpartum period and is often associated with symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, neck stiffness, photophobia, and hearing loss. While serious immediate complications (e.g., subdural hematoma, cerebral venous thrombosis) are rare, long-term consequences - including chronic headaches, neck or low back pain and depression, have been described. A conservative treatment is usually started during the first 24 hours, but it often proves insufficient, leading to the use of an additional epidural blood patch therapy. While considered as the gold standard, this procedure is invasive and presents limitations. The effectiveness of the epidural blood patch is variable (33-91 %), and the need for a second blood patch is not uncommon. The risks associated with the procedure include second dural puncture, low back pain, vasovagal syncope and paresthesia. Serious complications could occur with reported cases of aseptic meningitis or acute subdural hematoma. An emerging alternative is the sphenopalatine ganglion block that is a less invasive procedure showing promising results. Several recent trials suggested the safety, feasibilty and efficacy of this intervention with excellent tolerance. Then, we aim to compare the efficacy and safety of these procedures in a randomized controlled trial.

This randomized controlled trial will compare two commonly used techniques for performing spinal anesthesia, the median (midline) approach and the paramedian (lateral) approach, in adult patients undergoing elective orthopedic or urology surgery at Mayo Hospital, Lahore. Spinal anesthesia is widely used because it provides rapid pain control during surgery and avoids airway instrumentation. However, a recognized complication is post-dural puncture headache (PDPH), a headache that typically worsens on sitting or standing and improves on lying down. PDPH can delay mobilization, reduce oral intake, prolong hospital stay, and sometimes require additional treatment. Eligible participants aged 18 to 65 years with American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status I or II will be enrolled, and then allocated in a 1:1 ratio to receive spinal anesthesia using either the median or paramedian approach. To standardize the procedure, spinal anesthesia will be performed under aseptic technique at the L3 to L4 or L4 to L5 interspace using a 25-gauge Quincke spinal needle, followed by injection of a fixed dose of hyperbaric bupivacaine. Routine perioperative monitoring will be applied for all participants, and intra-operative blood pressure will be recorded at regular intervals to document hypotension. The primary outcomes are the frequency and severity of PDPH. PDPH will be assessed using a structured checklist based on the International Classification of Headache Disorders, 3rd edition (ICHD-3) at 24 hours, 72 hours, and day 5 after the procedure by a trained assessor. Headache intensity will be recorded using a 0 to 10 Visual Analogue Scale, and categorized as mild, moderate, or severe. The hypothesis is that the frequency and severity of PDPH differ between the median and paramedian approaches in patients receiving spinal anesthesia for orthopedic or urology surgery.

The aim of this study is to examine the effects of altitude (high altitude versus low altitude) on incidence and severity of postural puncture headache (PDPH) following spinal anaesthesia for caesarean delivery. The investigators hypothesized that the risk of PDPH would be higher in highlander parturients than in lowlander parturients.

Post-dural puncture headache (PDPH) or spinal (or post-spinal) headache is one of the most common side effects of spinal anesthesia, with an incidence of 6-36%. The incidence of this complication was reported to be 76-85% after accidental dural puncture in epidural anesthesia. It usually starts within several hours after spinal anesthesia, but sometimes it can be delayed for up to 2 weeks, which usually resolves within a few days

Epidural anesthesia represents the most popular method for pain relief during labour. Unintentional dural puncture (UDP) occurs in 0.4-1.5% of labour epidural analgesia, representing therefore the most common complication. Up to 80% of patients with a UDP may develop a post-dural puncture headache (PDPH). When a UDP occurs, two possible strategies have been proposed in order to ensure analgesia during labour: either resiting the epidural catheter in a different intervertebral space, or inserting an intrathecal catheter. Both strategies proved to equally provide analgesia during labour, but their relative contribution in preventing PDPH is still not known. The primary aim of this multicenter randomized controlled trial is therefore to compare these two strategies in the occurrence of PDPH at 24 hours from the UDP.

To improve treatment for post dural puncture headache, its pathophysiology needs to be explored. Dural puncture alters CNS dynamics; using advanced MRI, we aim to investigate PDPHs pathophysiology explained by brain movement, cerebral blood flow, CSF dynamics and the effect of epidural blood patch.