BACKGROUND: Neuraxial analgesia is chosen by almost half of women who give birth in the United States. Unintentional dural puncture is the most common complication of this pain management technique, occurring in 0.4% to 6% of parturients. Severe positional headaches develop acutely in 70% to 80% of these parturients. Acute postdural puncture headaches are well known, but few studies have investigated long-term sequelae. We investigated the incidence of and risk factors for chronic headache and chronic back pain in parturients who experienced unintentional dural puncture with a 17-gauge Tuohy needle compared with matched controls. METHODS: In a case control design, 40 parturients who sustained unintentional dural puncture with a 17-gauge Tuohy needle over an 18-month period and 40 controls matched for age, weight, and time of delivery were recruited by telephone and 2 validated questionnaires were administered assessing headache and back pain symptoms 12 to 24 months after delivery. RESULTS: The incidence of chronic headaches in the study group (28%) was significantly higher than in the matched controls (5%) (OR = 7, P = 0.0129). Subjects who experienced dural punctures were more likely than controls to report chronic back pain (OR = 4, P = 0.0250), but treatment with an epidural blood patch was not a risk factor for chronic back pain. CONCLUSIONS: Patients who incur unintentional dural punctures with large-gauge needles are surprisingly likely to continue to suffer chronic headaches. Treatment with an epidural blood patch does not enhance the risk of chronic back pain. The pathophysiology underlying these symptoms and the best treatment for this syndrome are not known.
BACKGROUND: Neuraxial analgesia is chosen by almost half of women who give birth in the United States. Unintentional dural puncture is the most common complication of this pain management technique, occurring in 0.4% to 6% of parturients. Severe positional headaches develop acutely in 70% to 80% of these parturients. Acute postdural puncture headaches are well known, but few studies have investigated long-term sequelae. We investigated the incidence of and risk factors for chronic headache and chronic back pain in parturients who experienced unintentional dural puncture with a 17-gauge Tuohy needle compared with matched controls. METHODS: In a case control design, 40 parturients who sustained unintentional dural puncture with a 17-gauge Tuohy needle over an 18-month period and 40 controls matched for age, weight, and time of delivery were recruited by telephone and 2 validated questionnaires were administered assessing headache and back pain symptoms 12 to 24 months after delivery. RESULTS: The incidence of chronic headaches in the study group (28%) was significantly higher than in the matched controls (5%) (OR = 7, P = 0.0129). Subjects who experienced dural punctures were more likely than controls to report chronic back pain (OR = 4, P = 0.0250), but treatment with an epidural blood patch was not a risk factor for chronic back pain. CONCLUSIONS:Patients who incur unintentional dural punctures with large-gauge needles are surprisingly likely to continue to suffer chronic headaches. Treatment with an epidural blood patch does not enhance the risk of chronic back pain. The pathophysiology underlying these symptoms and the best treatment for this syndrome are not known.
Authors: Ivan Urits; Viet Cai; Musa Aner; Thomas Simopoulos; Vwaire Orhurhu; Jyotsna Nagda; Omar Viswanath; Alan D Kaye; Philip E Hess; Jatinder Gill Journal: Curr Pain Headache Rep Date: 2020-01-08
Authors: Jamal Hasoon; Ivan Urits; Rana Al-Jumah; Mark Burroughs; Viet Cai; Omar Viswanath; Musa Aner; Paragi H Rana; Thomas Simopoulos; Alan D Kaye; Jatinder Gill Journal: Psychopharmacol Bull Date: 2020-10-15
Authors: Jamal Hasoon; Ivan Urits; Mark Burroughs; Viet Cai; Vwaire Orhurhu; Musa Aner; Cyrus Yazdi; Thomas Simopoulos; Omar Viswanath; Alan D Kaye; Philip E Hess; Jatinder Gill Journal: Psychopharmacol Bull Date: 2020-10-15
Authors: Pedro L Antibas; Paulo do Nascimento Junior; Leandro G Braz; João Vitor Pereira Doles; Norma S P Módolo; Regina El Dib Journal: Cochrane Database Syst Rev Date: 2014-07-18