POST-DURAL PUNCTURE HEADACHE: EPIDURAL BLOOD PATCH APPLICATION CASE REPORT

Abstract. Introduction. Post-dural puncture headache is the most common complication of spinal anesthesia. It is a headache caused by the loss of cerebrospinal fluid, appears or intensifies when taking an upright stance, decreases upon taking a horizontal position, and is accompanied by at least one of the following symptoms: Pain and stiffness in the neck, tinnitus, hearing loss, photophobia, and nausea. Despite the presence of numerous reviews on the prevention and treatment of post-dural puncture headache, most of them do not provide any structured recommendations. The aim of the study was to analyze the effectiveness of epidural blood patch. Materials and Methods. The article provides a case report on a patient with a post-dural puncture headache, who was treated with using the epidural blood patch technique. Results and Discussion. Patient S., 38 years old, complaining of a headache that worsens with verticalization, turned to City Clinical Hospital No. 7 named after M.N. Sadykov. It is known from the anamnesis that on the day after spinal anesthesia, when trying to verticalize, he felt a headache, that did not bother him while lying down. Infusion therapy was performed with a temporary effect. Due to the ineffectiveness of conservative therapy at the previous stage of treatment, it was decided to use an epidural blood patch. The clinical case presented demonstrates the need for limiting the period of conservative treatment of postdural headache and high effectiveness of epidural blood patch with rapid achievement of a clinical result. Conclusions. The advanced technique of epidural blood patch is much more efficient for the treatment of post-dural puncture headaches, compared to conservative treatment methods. The findings allow starting this procedure in a timely manner, improving the quality of patients’ life without wasting time on using ineffective conservative therapy.