Intracranial Subdural Hematoma Versus Postdural Puncture Headache Following Epidural Anesthesia: A Case Report

The Delayed Presentation of Bilateral Subdural Hematoma Secondary to Epidural Anesthesia for Elective Vaginal Delivery: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

Epidural anesthesia (EA) involves reaching the spinal epidural space with an anesthetic drug injection. This procedure provides pain relief during labor. Although EA can lead to some complications, subdural hemorrhage (SDH) is a rare adverse event associated with it. We report the case of a 25-year-old female patient who presented to our emergency department with a one-month history of headaches and associated blurred vision following a normal vaginal delivery with EA. She was initially treated as a case of post-dural puncture headache (PDPH), with no improvement. Finally, the diagnosis of bilateral SDH was made based on a brain MRI. She required surgical intervention, which led to a positive prognosis and a full return of normal baseline neurological functions. Only a few reports in the literature have indicated the possibility of cranial subdural hematoma formation associated with spinal or epidural analgesia. Our patient experienced a delay in her diagnosis and treatment, as SDH following EA is a rare entity. It is important to follow up with such patients and consider other possibilities when symptoms fail to resolve. Also, reporting these cases is crucial to assist clinicians in early diagnosis and treatment, and to avoid disastrous outcomes.

Post Dural Puncture Subdural Hematoma: A Rare Iatrogenic Complication of Neuraxial Anesthesia

Although post-dural puncture headache is a well-known complication of neuraxial anesthesia, subdural hematoma following epidural injection is a rare but potentially under-recognized complication. The following is the case of a young female patient with no significant past medical history who developed a persistent and severe headache following the introduction of epidural anesthesia for labor induction. Imaging demonstrated multiple small subdural hematomas with findings concerning intracranial hypotension. She eventually underwent a blood patch and reported immediate relief from her headache.