[Post-dural Puncture Headache]

Overview

Journal Anaesthesist

Specialty Anesthesiology

Date 2013 Feb 13

PMID 23400710

Citations 9

Authors

K Radke

O C Radke

Affiliations

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Abstract

Headache following dural puncture is a typical complication of neuraxial analgesia and can impair the ability to perform activities of daily living up to incapacitation. The use of thin, atraumatic needles and special puncture techniques (e.g. reinsertion of the stylet) can prevent the majority of post-dural puncture headaches (PDPH). One of the most effective measures to prevent headache after accidental dural puncture is the intrathecal or epidural administration of morphine. When the diagnosis of PDPH is confirmed after excluding relevant differential diagnoses, some of which are potentially life-threatening, caffeine, theophylline and non-opioid analgesics are effective agents to reduce the severity of the symptoms. Traditional measures, such as strict bed rest and hyperhydration can no longer be recommended. If invasive treatment of the headache is warranted an epidural blood patch is still the method of choice with a high rate of success.

Citing Articles

[NAPOK: national register on analysis of (non)invasive treatment procedures for postdural puncture headache-Protocol publication].

Helmer P, Kranke P, Thon J, Helf A, Meybohm P, Weigand M Anaesthesiologie. 2025; 74(3):156-158.

PMID: 39934381 PMC: 11876252. DOI: 10.1007/s00101-025-01512-x.

Intranasal Lidocaine Administration via Mucosal Atomization Device: A Simple and Successful Treatment for Postdural Puncture Headache in Obstetric Patients.

Siegler B, Dos Santos Pereira R, Kessler J, Wallwiener S, Wallwiener M, Larmann J Biomedicines. 2023; 11(12).

PMID: 38137518 PMC: 10741192. DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11123296.

[Postdural puncture headache in obstetrics : Pathogenesis, diagnostics and treatment].

Siegler B, Oehler B, Kranke P, Weigand M Anaesthesiologie. 2022; 71(8):646-660.

PMID: 35925200 DOI: 10.1007/s00101-022-01171-2.

[Intranasal lidocaine atomization as novel and noninvasive treatment option for postdural puncture headache : Two case reports from obstetric anesthesiology].

Siegler B, Gruss M, Oehler B, Kessler J, Fluhr H, Weis C Anaesthesist. 2020; 70(5):392-397.

PMID: 33301057 PMC: 8099803. DOI: 10.1007/s00101-020-00900-9.

[21-year-old female with headaches after giving birth : Preparation for the medical specialist examination: part 49].

Radke K, Radke O Anaesthesist. 2019; 68(Suppl 3):304-306.

PMID: 31624890 DOI: 10.1007/s00101-019-00659-8.

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