International Journal of Obstetric Anesthesia
Volume 15, Issue 3 , Pages 237-239, July 2006

Pneumocephalus with headache complicating labour epidural analgesia: should we still be using air?☆

  • O.O. Nafiu

      Affiliations

    • Corresponding Author InformationCorrespondence to: O.O. Nafiu, MD, FRCA, Department of Anesthesiology, University of Michigan, Room UH 1H247, 1500 East Medical Drive, Ann Arbor, MI 48109- 0048, USA. Fax: +734 9369091.
    • ,
  • J.C. Urquhart

Department of Anesthesiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA

Department of Anaesthesia, West Suffolk Hospital, Bury St. Edmunds, UK

Accepted October 2005.

O. O. Nafiu, Department of Anesthesiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA, J. C. Urquhart, Department of Anaesthesia, West Suffolk Hospital, Bury St. Edmunds, UK.

Summary 

Pneumocephalus is a rare complication of epidural block which typically occurs when the loss of resistance to air technique is used to identify the epidural space. We present a case of pneumocephalus with headache in a parturient following apparently uncomplicated labour epidural analgesia.

Keywords: Obstetric anaesthesia, Epidural analgesia, Complications: Postdural puncture headache, Pneumocephalus

To access this article, please choose from the options below

Login to an existing account or Register a new account.

  • Purchase this article for 31.50 USD (You must login/register to purchase this article)

    Online access for 24 hours. The PDF version can be downloaded as your permanent record.

  • Subscribe to this title

    Get unlimited online access to this article and all other articles in this title 24/7 for one year.

  • Claim access now

    For current subscribers with Society Membership or Account Number.

  • Visit SciVerse ScienceDirect to see if you have access via your institution.
 

☆ Abstract presented at the May 4-7, 2005 Society of Obstetric Anesthesia and Perinatology (SOAP) meeting.

PII: S0959-289X(05)00189-5

doi:10.1016/j.ijoa.2005.10.011

International Journal of Obstetric Anesthesia
Volume 15, Issue 3 , Pages 237-239, July 2006

Article Tools

* Image Usage & Resolution