Post Dural Puncture Headache - A case report

Postpartum women are at risk for developinga headache after they undergo caesarean section with spinal anaesthesia. These headaches are likely due to leakage of cerebrospinal fluid at the puncture site. While usually mild and self-limited, some headaches may be persistent and severe, adding to the distress of these postnatal mothers. In the past 10 years, refinements in lumbar needle size and shape as well as procedural techniques have reduced the tissue trauma that predisposes patients to headache. A number of interventions, such as bed rest, hydration, caffeine administration, and epidural blood patching, have been suggested to prevent and relieve the headaches that follow spinal anaesthesia. This article outlines a case of post dural puncture headache in a postnatal woman following caesarean delivery with spinal anaesthesia and reviews the evidence from research trials to suggest which interventions clinicians should adopt into their practice to minimize this complication of spinal anaesthesia.