A case of paradoxical presentation of a postural postdural puncture headache after combined spinal-epidural anesthesia

J Clin Anesth. 2017 May:38:156-157. doi: 10.1016/j.jclinane.2016.08.024. Epub 2017 Feb 22.

Abstract

We report a case of paradoxical presentation of a postural postdural puncture headache secondary to dural puncture with a 25-gauge Whitacre needle for combined spinal-epidural anesthesia. This 27-year-old female patient presented to the emergency department with elevated blood pressure and a global headache 9 days after administration of epidural anesthesia for a spontaneous vaginal delivery after an uncomplicated pregnancy. The patient reported that the headache was more intense when lying down and immediately improved when she sat or stood up from a recumbent position. The patient was discharged from emergency department after an improvement following treatment with labetalol, ondansetron, ketorolac, and fluid resuscitation.

Keywords: CSE; Combined spinal-epidural; Dural puncture; Epidural; Paradoxical postdural puncture headache; Spinal headache.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Acetaminophen / therapeutic use
  • Adult
  • Analgesics, Opioid / administration & dosage
  • Anesthesia, Epidural / adverse effects*
  • Anesthesia, Obstetrical / adverse effects*
  • Anesthesia, Spinal / adverse effects*
  • Anesthetics, Local / administration & dosage
  • Bupivacaine / administration & dosage
  • Cerebrospinal Fluid Leak / complications*
  • Delivery, Obstetric / adverse effects
  • Drug Combinations
  • Female
  • Fentanyl / administration & dosage
  • Humans
  • Hypertension / drug therapy
  • Hypertension / etiology
  • Ketorolac / therapeutic use
  • Labetalol / therapeutic use
  • Needles
  • Ondansetron / therapeutic use
  • Oxycodone / therapeutic use
  • Post-Dural Puncture Headache / diagnosis*
  • Post-Dural Puncture Headache / drug therapy
  • Post-Dural Puncture Headache / etiology
  • Pregnancy

Substances

  • Analgesics, Opioid
  • Anesthetics, Local
  • Drug Combinations
  • oxycodone-acetaminophen
  • Acetaminophen
  • Ondansetron
  • Oxycodone
  • Labetalol
  • Fentanyl
  • Bupivacaine
  • Ketorolac