Postpartum headaches: summary report of the National Obstetric Anaesthetic Database (NOAD) 1999

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.

The association between labour epidural case volume and the rate of accidental dural puncture

Accidental dural puncture is a recognised complication of labour epidural placement and can cause a debilitating headache. We examined the association between labour epidural case volume and accidental dural puncture rate in specialist anaesthetists and anaesthesia trainees. We performed a retrospective cohort study of labour epidural and combined spinal-epidural nerve blocks performed between 1 July 2013 and 31 December 2017 at Waitemata District Health Board, Auckland, New Zealand. The mean (SD) annual number of obstetric epidural and combined spinal-epidural procedures for high-case volume specialists was 44.2 (15.0), and for low-case volume specialists was 10.0 (6.8), after accounting for caesarean section combined spinal-epidural procedures. Analysis of 7976 labour epidural and combined spinal-epidural procedure records revealed a total of 92 accidental dural punctures (1.2%). The accidental dural puncture rate (95%CI) in high-case volume specialists was 0.6% (0.4-0.9%) and in low-case volume specialists 2.4% (1.4-3.9%), indicating probable skill decay. The odds of accidental dural puncture were 3.77 times higher for low- compared with high-case volume specialists (95%CI 1.72-8.28, p = 0.001). Amongst trainees, novices had a significantly higher accidental dural puncture complication rate (3.1%) compared with registrars (1.2%), OR (95%CI) 0.39 (0.18-0.84), p = 0.016, or fellows (1.1%), 0.35 (0.16-0.76), p = 0.008. Accidental dural puncture complication rates decreased once trainees progressed past the 'novice' training stage.

Prophylactic Intrathecal Morphine and Prevention of Post-Dural Puncture Headache: A Randomized Double-blind Trial

BACKGROUND

Prophylactic epidural morphine administration after unintentional dural puncture with a large-bore needle has been shown to decrease the incidence of post-dural puncture headache. The authors hypothesized that prophylactic administration of intrathecal morphine would decrease the incidence of post-dural puncture headache and/or need for epidural blood patch after unintentional dural puncture.

METHODS

Parturients with an intrathecal catheter in situ after unintentional dural puncture with a 17-g Tuohy needle during intended epidural catheter placement for labor analgesia were enrolled in this randomized, double-blind trial. After delivery, subjects were randomized to receive intrathecal morphine 150 µg or normal saline. The primary outcome was the incidence of post-dural puncture headache. Secondary outcomes included onset, duration, and severity of post-dural puncture headache, the presence of cranial nerve symptoms and the type of treatment the patient received.

RESULTS

Sixty-one women were included in the study. The incidence of post-dural puncture headache was 21 of 27 (78%) in the intrathecal morphine group and 27 of 34 (79%) in the intrathecal saline group (difference, -1%; 95% CI, -25% to 24%). There were no differences between groups in the onset, duration, or severity of headache, or presence of cranial nerve symptoms. Epidural blood patch was administered to 10 of 27 (37%) of subjects in the intrathecal morphine and 11 of 21 (52%) of the intrathecal saline group (difference 15%; 95% CI, -18% to 48%).

CONCLUSIONS

The present findings suggest that a single prophylactic intrathecal morphine dose of 150 µg administered shortly after delivery does not decrease the incidence or severity of post-dural puncture headache after unintentional dural puncture. This study does not support the clinical usefulness of prophylactic intrathecal morphine after an unintentional dural puncture.

Treatment of obstetric post-dural puncture headache. Part 2: epidural blood patch

The 2009-12 MBRRACE-UK report highlighted the deaths of two women in whom dural puncture had occurred during insertion of a labour epidural catheter. Despite suffering long-term headaches, neither woman was adequately followed-up after discharge from hospital. Death resulted from a cerebral vein thrombosis in one case and a subdural haematoma in the other. Due to significant variation in the treatment of obstetric post-dural puncture headache, an Obstetric Anaesthetists' Association working group was set up to produce evidence-based guidelines to guide clinicians. These guidelines have been condensed into two review articles. In this second review, the role of an epidural blood patch is discussed using a question and answer format.

Insertion of an intrathecal catheter following a recognised accidental dural puncture reduces the need for an epidural blood patch in parturients: an Australian retrospective study

BACKGROUND

There is no clear consensus about how best to prevent post-dural puncture headache (PDPH) following an accidental dural puncture in parturients. Our primary objective was to investigate whether the insertion of an intrathecal catheter following accidental dural puncture reduces the incidence of PDPH and therapeutic epidural blood patch.

METHODS

Anaesthetic records from January 2009 to December 2015 were reviewed retrospectively and parturients who had an accidental dural puncture and/or PDPH were identified. Data from those with a recognised dural puncture in whom an intrathecal catheter was inserted at the time of accidental dural puncture (ITC group) were compared to those without an intrathecal catheter (non-ITC group), as were outcomes of patients with an intrathecal catheter for ≥24 hours compared to <24 hours.

RESULTS

Of 94 recognised accidental dural punctures, 66 were in the ITC group (37 for ≥24 h) and 28 in the non-ITC group. In the ITC group, 22 (33.3%) required an epidural blood patch in comparison to 19 (67.9%) in the non-ITC group (P <0.01, 95% CI 12.5 to 52.0). In the ITC group, 62 (93.9%) developed PDPH in comparison to 28 (100%) in the non-ITC group (P=0.186, 95% CI -6.55 to 14.57). Intrathecal catheter insertion for ≥24 h obviated the need for an epidural blood patch in 28 (75.7%) parturients, compared to 13 (59.1%) if <24 h (P=0.184, 95% CI -7.08 to 39.72).

CONCLUSION

Inserting an intrathecal catheter after a recognised accidental dural puncture significantly reduced the need for an epidural blood patch.

Continuous epidural pumping of saline contributes to prevent and treat postdural puncture headache

STUDY OBJECTIVE

Postdural puncture headache (PDPH) is the most common symptom of accidental dural puncture, a frequent complication of intraspinal anesthesia. We developed a postoperative intervention technique to prevent and treat PDPH in accidental dural puncture patients, including epidural pumping of saline. This retrospective study aimed to retrospectively evaluate this new technique for PDPH prevention and treatment.

DESIGN

Retrospective study.

SETTING

Beijing Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital affiliated to the Capital Medical University, between January 2006 and December 2012.

PATIENTS

Eighty-seven cases undergoing intraspinal anesthesia were assessed.

INTERVENTIONS

Of these patients, 68 cases had successful repuncture and were assigned to group A (epidural filling group, n=68), receiving continuous epidural pumping of 0.9% NS (150mL) at a rate of 6mL/h; the remaining cases were assigned to group B (conservative therapy group, n=19).

MEASUREMENTS

Age, height, and body weight were collected, and postoperative headache was assessed using a visual analog scale.

MAIN RESULTS

Of 68 patients in group A, 49 (72.1%) developed PDPH, whereas all in group B developed PDPH (P=.009). In addition, all patients showed PDPH within 3days after surgery regardless of treatment group. However, a statistically significant difference was obtained for PDPH duration between groups A and B (P<.001). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that frequency of epidural puncture and continuous epidural pumping of saline were significant risk factors for PDPH.

CONCLUSIONS

Our data indicated that application of 6mL/h saline effectively contributes to PDPH management, and its clinical application should be broadened.

Bilateral greater occipital nerve block for treatment of post-dural puncture headache after caesarean operations

BACKGROUND

Post-dural puncture headache (PDPH) is an important complication of neuroaxial anesthesia and more frequently noted in pregnant women. The pain is described as severe, disturbing and its location is usually fronto-occipital. The conservative treatment of PDPH consists of bed rest, fluid theraphy, analgesics and caffeine. Epidural blood patch is gold standard theraphy but it is an invasive method. The greater occipital nerve (GON) is formed of sensory fibers that originate in the C2 and C3 segments of the spinal cord and it is the main sensory nerve of the occipital region. GON blockage has been used for the treatment of many kinds of headache. The aim of this retrospective study is to present the results of PDPH treated with GON block over 1 year period in our institute.

METHODS

16 patients who had been diagnosed to have PDPH, and performed GON block after caesarean operations were included in the study. GON blocks were performed as the first treatment directly after diagnose of the PDPH with levobupivacaine and dexamethasone.

RESULTS

The mean VAS score of the patients was 8.75 (±0.93) before the block; 3.87 (±1.78) 10min after the block; 1.18 (±2.04) 2h after the block and 2.13 (±1.64) 24h after the block. No adverse effects were observed.

CONCLUSIONS

Treatment of PDPH with GON block seems to be a minimal invasive, easy and effective method especially after caesarean operations. A GON block may be considered before the application of a blood patch.

Ultrasound-Guided Bilateral Greater Occipital Nerve Block for the Treatment of Postdural Puncture Headache

Treatment of postdural puncture headaches involves oral or intravenous (IV) fluid or caffeine-containing analgesics, micro-catheterization of spinal space, epidural administration of blood obtained from the patient, or epidural blood patch and fiberoptic imaging-guided epidural interventional techniques. Epidural blood patch is, to date, the most effective treatment, but it is an invasive procedure that may result in serious complications. Spinal anaesthesia was planned for a 22 year old male patient diagnosed with inguinal hernia and for a 42 year old female patient diagnosed with venous stasis. On the first post-operative day, the patients with a postdural puncture headache received conservative medical treatment. As medical treatment was ineffective, they received ultrasound-guided greater bilateral occipital nerve block. In this case report, the effect of the ultrasound-guided bilateral greater occipital nerve block on postdural puncture headache is discussed.

Meningeal (postdural) puncture headache, unintentional dural puncture, and the epidural blood patch: a national survey of United States practice

BACKGROUND

Meningeal (postdural) puncture headache (MPH) is a familiar iatrogenic complication. The optimal means of prevention, management, and treatment of this disorder are uncertain. The purpose of this study was to determine current practice among United States (USA) anesthesiologists regarding MPH as well as the related issues of unintentional dural puncture (UDP), the epidural blood patch (EBP), and proposed alternatives to the EBP.

METHODS

A survey form was sent as a single mailing to each practicing USA member of the American Society of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine in June 2006.

RESULTS

Data were analyzed from 1024 returned survey forms (29.4% response rate). Major findings were as follows: Written institutional protocols for managing UDP and MPH are uncommon. The preferred method of immediately dealing with an UDP when providing analgesia for labor is to reattempt the epidural at another level (73.4%). When intrathecal catheters are used for labor analgesia, they are most often removed immediately after delivery (56.5%). After UDP in the obstetric setting, aggressive hydration and encouraging bed rest are the most frequently used prophylactic measures against the development of MPH. Frequently used treatment options for MPH include aggressive hydration, the EBP, oral caffeine, oral nonopioid analgesics, and bed rest. With the exception of a uniform blood volume (16-20 mL), procedural details of the EBP vary considerably among practitioners. The use of materials other than blood for epidural patch is uncommon.

CONCLUSIONS

Various measures, many poorly supported by the literature, are used prophylactically after UDP and in the treatment of MPH. Despite being nearly universally used as treatment of MPH, the EBP procedure itself remains largely nonstandardized.

Postpartum seizures after epidural analgesia: a patient with a mutation of the factor V Leiden and prothrombin gene

We report the case of a 27-year-old parturient who developed a headache within 12 hours of delivery and who subsequently seized. Further examination, including magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomographic scan, showed a partial thrombosis of a transversal venous sinus, the underlying cause being an activated protein C resistance caused by a heterozygote factor V Leiden mutation and heterozygote prothrombin-gene mutation G20210A. Seven months after delivery, the patient is in good health, showing no neurocognitive disability.

Use of an information leaflet to improve general practitioners’ knowledge of post dural puncture headache

BACKGROUND

The number of women receiving neuraxial anaesthesia for labour and delivery is increasing. Women are also being discharged into the community sooner after delivery. Thus, complications arising from neuraxial anaesthesia may present to general practitioners, so it is of vital importance that they are familiar with and can manage potential problems associated with these anaesthetic techniques.

METHODS

A questionnaire was sent to 126 local general practitioners to discover their knowledge of the symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of post dural puncture headache in the parturient. An information leaflet was then circulated to all general practitioners in the region, detailing headaches and other potential problems following epidural analgesia for childbirth, and the questionnaire was reissued.

RESULTS

The first questionnaire demonstrated that they had poor knowledge of the symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of post dural puncture headache in the parturient. Following the dissemination of the information leaflet, responses to the second questionnaire showed a significant improvement.

CONCLUSION

By comparing the two sets of answers, we demonstrated that the leaflet has successfully improved knowledge of post dural puncture headache and other potential sequelae of obstetric epidural analgesia among general practitioners.

The incidence and etiology of postpartum headaches: a prospective cohort study

PURPOSE

We sought to determine the incidence, etiology, characteristics and risk factors for all headaches in the first week postpartum.

METHODS

This was a prospective cohort study of 985 women delivering over a three-month period in a single tertiary-care institution. These women underwent a structured interview and follow-up to collect demographic data and to assess for the presence and characteristics of postpartum headache (PPHa) or neck/shoulder pain. All headaches were diagnosed using an algorithm based on the diagnostic criteria of the International Headache Society. Multivariate analysis was used to examine possible risk factors.

RESULTS

Three hundred eighty-one of the 985 study participants (39%) reported headaches or neck/shoulder pain during the study period. The median time to onset of the PPHa was two days (0, 6; 1st and 3rd quartiles) and duration was four hours (2, 24; 1st and 3rd quartiles). Primary headaches accounted for > 75% of PPHa. Only a small number of headaches (4%) were incapacitating. Postdural puncture headache accounted for 4.7% of all PPHa. Significant risk factors for the development of PPHa were: known inadvertent dural puncture [odds ratio (OR)adj = 6.36; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.29, 31.24]; previous headache history (1-12/yr-OR(adj) = 1.57; 95% CI 1.01, 2.44; > 12/yr-OR(adj) = 2.25; 95% CI 1.63, 3.11); multiparity (OR(adj) = 1.37; 95% CI 1.03, 1.82) and increasing age (OR(adj) = 1.03/yr; 95% CI 1.00, 1.06).

CONCLUSIONS

Postpartum headaches are common, often first noted after discharge from hospital. The majority are related to primary headache disorders. Increased awareness of this epidemiological relationship and improved diagnosis of primary headache conditions may lead to improved headache-specific therapy and avoidance of unnecessary investigations or read-mission to hospital.

Postpartum neurologic symptoms following single-shot spinal block for labour analgesia

BACKGROUND

As part of a quality assurance program, we investigated the incidence of postpartum neurologic symptoms in multiparous parturients receiving spinal block for labour analgesia, now in routine use in our labour ward.

METHODS

Two hundred and twenty-nine consecutive multiparous parturients presenting for vaginal delivery and requesting spinal analgesia were asked to participate in this prospective study. All parturients received our standard intrathecal analgesia (ITA): 2.5 mg bupivacaine (1 ml) + 25 microg fentanyl (0.5 ml) using a 27-gauge Quincke-type needle. The patients filled in a questionnaire on the first day after delivery and again upon discharge. Complaints typical of neurologic sequelae were noted and a neurologic examination was performed, if necessary. All patients with postdural puncture headache (PDPH) and transient neurologic symptoms (TNSs) were interviewed by telephone 2 weeks after discharge to determine the course of the symptoms.

RESULTS

Two hundred and twelve parturients were included in the study. Eighteen (8.5%) parturients complained of PDPH, the severity of which was mild in eight (4%), moderate in seven (3%), and severe in three (1%) patients, respectively. Fifteen (7%) mothers were treated with analgesics or bedrest only. Three (1%) patients were given an epidural blood patch. The paramedian approach was associated with the development of PDPH (P = 0.04). Transient neurologic symptoms were experienced by nine (4.2%) mothers, lasting 1-3 days, mostly presenting as bilateral pain in the buttocks or thighs. One parturient suffered from paraesthesia of the left foot lasting for 3 days. Forty (19%) mothers complained of non-postural headache and 28 (13%) of new-onset back pain. Three mothers (1%) would not want to receive a further spinal block.

CONCLUSION

Transient neurologic symptoms (TNSs) after spinal block occurred infrequently. The incidence of PDPH was higher than in the obstetric population in general and calls for re-evaluation of our spinal block methods. Despite the occurrence of neurologic sequelae, patient acceptability was high.

The management of accidental dural puncture during labour epidural analgesia: a survey of UK practice

The management of accidental dural puncture and postdural puncture headache in obstetric practice continues to be of great interest. This survey aims to explore the current management of this complication in the United Kingdom and compares the findings to a similar survey undertaken in 1993. A postal questionnaire was sent to all maternity units (n = 248). The return rate was 71%. Of these, 144 units (85%) now have written guidelines for the management of accidental dural puncture compared to 58% in 1993. In 47 units (28%), the epidural catheter is now routinely placed intrathecally following accidental dural puncture; in 69 units (41%) the catheter is re-sited and in the remaining 53 units (31%) either option is allowed. This is in contrast to the previous survey, which found that catheters were re-sited in 99% of units. Only 31 units (18%) now limit the second stage of labour and 19 (11%) avoid pushing and deliver by ventouse or forceps, whilst 116 units (69%) allow labour to take place without any intervention. Only 44 units (26%) now treat postdural puncture headache with an epidural blood patch as soon as it is diagnosed, whereas in 120 units (71%) the blood patch is performed only after failure of conservative measures. Due to the large increase in the use of the intrathecal catheter following this complication, a follow-up questionnaire was posted 5 months later to those units (n = 99) that reported this practice in the initial survey, with a 94% response rate. The two most commonly cited reasons for intrathecal catheterisation were to avoid further dural puncture (76%) and to allow immediate analgesia for labour (75%).

What’s new and novel in obstetric anesthesia? Contributions from the 2003 scientific literature

THE PREGNANT PATIENT: Age; maternal disease; prophylactic antibiotics; gastroesophageal reflux; obesity; starvation; genotyping; coagulopathy; infection; substance abuse; altered drug responses in pregnancy; physiological changes of pregnancy. THE FETUS: Fetal monitoring; intrauterine surgery. THE NEWBORN: Breastfeeding; maternal infection, fever, and neonatal sepsis evaluation. OBSTETRIC COMPLICATIONS: Embolic phenomena; hemorrhage; preeclampsia; preterm delivery. OBSTETRIC MANAGEMENT: External cephalic version and cervical cerclage; elective cesarean delivery; fetal malpresentation; vaginal birth after cesarean delivery; termination of pregnancy. OBSTETRIC ANESTHESIA: Analgesia for labor and delivery; anesthesia for cesarean delivery; anesthesia for short obstetric operations; complications of anesthesia. MISCELLANEOUS: Consent; ethics; history; labor support; websites/books/leaflets/journal announcements.