Pneumocephalus after an autologous blood patch procedure to treat a postdural puncture headache - A case report -

Case Report: Pneumocephalus after labor epidural anesthesia

Lumbar epidural anesthesia is commonly used for labor analgesia. The 'loss-of- resistance' to air technique (LORA) is generally employed for recognition of the epidural space. One of the rare complications of this technique is pneumocephalus (PC). Here we describe the case of a parturient who developed a frontal headache when locating the epidural space using LORA. On the second day after epidural injection, the patient exhibited occipital headaches with gradual worsening. Computed tomography scans of the brain indicated PC. Following symptomatic treatment, our patient was discharged on the 13th day. We concluded that the amount of air used to identify the epidural space in LORA should be minimized, LORA should not be used after dural puncture and the use of saline avoids PC complications.

Temporary homonymous hemianopsia after epidural blood patch

We describe a case in which homonymous hemianopsia developed abruptly following an epidural blood patch procedure. The procedure was performed in a patient complaining of post-dural puncture headache after an emergency Cesarean section under spinal anesthesia. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated that air bubbles had moved from the prepontine and premedullar cisterns toward the left retrochiasmal region. The homonymous hemianopsia resolved rapidly with conservative management including oxygen, intravenous fluid, and antibiotics. We report on this case with a brief review of the related literature.

Pneumocephalus in a patient with no cerebrospinal fluid leakage after lumbar epidural block - a case report -

Several complications are possible after a lumbar epidural block. However pneumocephalus are rare. In this case, we report a case of pneumocephalus. A 68-year-old male patient received lumbar epidural block with the loss of resistance technique using air, and after 35 minutes, apnea, unconsciousness, hypotension, and bradycardia occurred. Immediately, brain CT was done, and we found pneumocephalus. The patient complained of severe occipital headache and itchiness due to pneumocehalus. After conservative treatment, the patient recovered without neurologic complications, and on the seventh day of his hospitalization, he was discharged from the hospital.