Comparative study between hydrocortisone and mannitol in treatment of postdural puncture headache: A randomized double-blind study

Treatment and Prevention of Post-dural Puncture Headaches: A Systematic Review

Post-dural puncture headache (PDPH) is occasionally an inevitable side effect of neuraxial anesthesia, which can happen after spinal anesthesia or if an accidental dural puncture (ADP) happens during epidural anesthesia. The treatment and prevention options for PDPH differ widely from one institution to another. The management of PDPH is heterogeneous in many institutions because of the absence of clear guidelines and protocols for the management of PDPH. This study aimed to summarize all articles published during the past decade that discussed the treatment or prevention of PDPH. From 2013 to 2023, 345 publications were filtered for all treatment and prevention approaches used for PDPH patients. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) 2020 guidelines were followed for conducting this systematic review, and 38 articles were included for analysis and review. Existing data come from small randomized clinical trials and retrospective or prospective cohort studies. This review supports the effect of oral pregabalin and intravenous aminophylline in both treatment and prevention. Intravenous mannitol, intravenous hydrocortisone, triple prophylactic regimen, and neostigmine plus atropine combination showed effective and beneficial outcomes. On the other hand, neither neuraxial morphine nor epidural dexamethasone showed promising results. Consequently, the use of neuraxial morphine or epidural dexamethasone for the prevention of PDPH remains questionable. Regarding the posture of the patient and its consequences on the incidence of the headache, lateral decubitus is better than a sitting position, and a prone position is better than a supine position. Smaller non-cutting needles play a role in avoiding PDPH. Minimally invasive nerve blocks, including sphenopalatine ganglion or greater occipital nerves, are satisfyingly effective. Epidural blood patches remain the more invasive but the gold standard and ultimate solution in patients resisting medical therapy. This study highlights the need for larger research to define the best approach to prevent and treat PDPH.

Evidence-based clinical practice guidelines on postdural puncture headache: a consensus report from a multisociety international working group

INTRODUCTION

Postdural puncture headache (PDPH) can follow unintentional dural puncture during epidural techniques or intentional dural puncture during neuraxial procedures such as a lumbar puncture or spinal anesthesia. Evidence-based guidance on the prevention, diagnosis or management of this condition is, however, currently lacking. This multisociety guidance aims to fill this void and provide practitioners with comprehensive information and patient-centric recommendations to prevent, diagnose and manage patients with PDPH.

METHODS

Based on input from committee members and stakeholders, the committee cochairs developed 10 review questions deemed important for the prevention, diagnosis and management of PDPH. A literature search for each question was performed in MEDLINE (Ovid) on 2 March 2022. The results from each search were imported into separate Covidence projects for deduplication and screening, followed by data extraction. Additional relevant clinical trials, systematic reviews and research studies published through March 2022 were also considered for the development of guidelines and shared with contributors. Each group submitted a structured narrative review along with recommendations graded according to the US Preventative Services Task Force grading of evidence. The interim draft was shared electronically, with each collaborator requested to vote anonymously on each recommendation using two rounds of a modified Delphi approach.

RESULTS

Based on contemporary evidence and consensus, the multidisciplinary panel generated 50 recommendations to provide guidance regarding risk factors, prevention, diagnosis and management of PDPH, along with their strength and certainty of evidence. After two rounds of voting, we achieved a high level of consensus for all statements and recommendations. Several recommendations had moderate-to-low certainty of evidence.

CONCLUSIONS

These clinical practice guidelines for PDPH provide a framework to improve identification, evaluation and delivery of evidence-based care by physicians performing neuraxial procedures to improve the quality of care and align with patients' interests. Uncertainty remains regarding best practice for the majority of management approaches for PDPH due to the paucity of evidence. Additionally, opportunities for future research are identified.

Incidence and associated factors of post dural puncture headache in cesarean section done under spinal anesthesia 2021 institutional based prospective single-armed cohort study

Background

Spinal anesthesia is the most commonly used anesthesia technique for Cesarean delivery with 80%–95% prevalence. The most common complication of SA is post-dural puncture Headache which is associated with dural puncture & Cerebrospinal fluid leak. This study aimed to assess the incidence and associated factors of post-dural puncture headache.

Methods

single-armed cohort study design was employed on 412 women from May 2021 to January 2022. Study subjects were selected using systematic random sampling. Descriptive statistics for each variable, binary logistic regression, and multiple logistic regression analysis with 95% CI was carried out.

Results

The overall incidence of post-dural puncture headache in this study was 25.7%. 43.9% of Post dural headache was detected in the 1st 24 h followed by 48 h. Of those who develop Post-dural headaches, 54.1% of them had mild pain, 17.3% of them was moderate pain and 28.6% of them suffered severe pain. The multivariable analysis indicated that BMI>30 kg/m² [AOR 2.85 95% CI: 1.91–4.25], number of attempts (>3), (AOR = 1.5, 95% CI: 1.19–1.91), and cephalic needle direction (AOR = 5.79 95% CI: 2.27–12.22), were factors associated with increased post-dural puncture headache. While large gauge needle size (AOR = 0.28 95% CI: 0.19–0.42), and greater than 3 years of experience of anesthetist (AOR = 0.44, 95% CI: 0.31–0.62) were associated with decreased incidence of post-dural puncture headache.

Conclusion

The incidence of post-dural puncture headache was higher in BMI>30 kg/m², greater than 3-time attempts during spinal anesthesia, using low gauge spinal needles, less than 3 years of experience as anesthetist and cephalic needle direction.

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Incidence of post-dural puncture headache was 25.7% of this 43.9% of PDPH happen in the first 24 h.

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54.1% of mothers who develop PDPH had mild pain while 17.3% and 28.6% of them suffered moderate and severe pain respectively.

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Large size spinal needle, greater than 3 attempts, cephalic needle direction, BMI >30 kg/m², and experience of anesthetist less than 3 years' were factors associated with increased incidence of PDPH.