Cefalea postpunción dural en obstetricia

Epidural analgesia in the obese obstetric patient: a retrospective and comparative study with non-obese patients at a tertiary hospital

Background and objectives

Obesity is becoming a frequent condition among obstetric patients. A high body mass index (BMI) has been closely related to a higher difficulty to perform the neuraxial technique and to the failure of epidural analgesia. Our study is aimed at analyzing obese obstetric patients who received neuraxial analgesia for labor at a tertiary hospital and assessing aspects related to the technique and its success.

Methods

Retrospective observational descriptive study during one year. Women with a BMI higher than 30 were identified, and variables related to the difficulty and complications of performing the technique, and to analgesia failure rate were assessed.

Results and conclusions

Out of 3653 patients, 27.4% had their BMI ≥ 30 kg.m-². Neuraxial techniques are difficult to be performed in obese obstetric patients, as showed by the number of puncture attempts (≥ 3 in 9.1% obese versus 5.3% in non-obese being p < 0.001), but the incidence of complications, as hematic puncture (6.6%) and accidental dural puncture (0.7%) seems to be similar in both obese and non-obese patients. The incidence of cesarean section in obese patients was 23.4% (p <  0.001). Thus, an early performance of epidural analgesia turns out to be essential to control labor pain and to avoid a general anesthesia in such high-risk patients.

Suboccipital Muscles Injection for Management of Post-Dural Puncture Headache After Cesarean Delivery: A Randomized-Controlled Trial

INTRODUCTION:

Post-dural puncture headache (PDPH) is a common complication following neuraxial anaesthesia that increases the duration of hospital stay.

AIM:

This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of injection of the dexamethasone-lidocaine mixture in suboccipital muscles treatment of PDPH after cesarean section.

PATIENT AND METHODS:

A group of 90 females with PDPH following cesarean section under spinal anaesthesia were randomly allocated into two equal groups: study group (Group S) and control group (group C). All patients received bilateral intramuscular (in the suboccipital muscle) (Group S) (n = 45) patients received lidocaine 40 mg (2 mL of 2% solution) and dexamethasone 8mg in a total volume of 4 mL; whilst, patients in the control group (group C) (n = 45) received 4 mL normal saline. The primary outcome is the Visual Analogue Score for a headache at 24 hours after injection.

RESULTS:

Demographic data and the baseline, headache score, neck muscle spasm, and nausea were comparable in both groups. Group S showed lower headache score compared to group C at all the post-injection time points. All patients in group S showed resolution of nausea after the intervention; while none of the control group showed any improvement. All patients of group C needed rescue analgesia; while only 6 (13.3%) patients in group S asked for an analgesic. Time to the first analgesic request was longer in group S compared to group C (10.17 ± 7.96 hours versus 1.00 ± 0.00 hours, P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION:

Ultrasound-guided injection of the dexamethasone-lidocaine mixture in suboccipital muscles is effective management of PDPH after CS.

[Unknown intracerebral tumour presenting as brainstem compression following unintentional dural puncture]

A 36-year old primigravid of 41 weeks gestation was admitted to the labour ward. Her past medical history included hyperemesis gravidarum and migraine. An accidental dural puncture occurred during labour epidural analgesia. In the postpartum period she presented with continuous headache, and was treated with oral analgesics, oral caffeine, fluid therapy, and tetracosactide. She refused an epidural blood patch. On the seventh day postpartum, the patient was re-admitted to the Emergency Department with decreased level of consciousness and signs of brainstem compression. Cranial computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging showed a posterior fossa tumour. An emergency craniotomy was performed with complete neurological recovery. This case emphasises the need to consider the differential diagnoses of post-dural puncture headache and to highlight the warning signs in patients who do not respond despite treatment with conventional therapy.

Two young women with chronic daily headache and cognitive impairment: why we need to ask about headache in the postpartum period

Headache, which has a variety of causes, is a common and disabling complaint following childbirth. An important aetiology not to be missed is headache from epidural spinal anaesthesia, known as postdural puncture headache (PDPH), which has been reported in upwards of 85% of pregnant women and is a manifestation of intracranial hypotension from leakage of cerebrospinal (CSF) fluid through a dural tear. The common presenting symptom of PDPH is head pain occurring when a patient is in an upright position that resolves with recumbency. Other neurological issues associated with intracranial hypotension can include cranial nerve palsies, encephalopathy and Parkinsonism. We present two cases of persistent PDPH after pregnancy with secondary cognitive impairment. A review of the clinical manifestations, neuroimaging findings and treatment for PDPH will be presented. Better recognition of this disorder by obstetricians, physicians and anaesthetics will help to reduce the considerable morbidity this syndrome can produce in young mothers.