International Journal of Obstetric Anesthesia
Volume 18, Issue 2 , Pages 165-168, April 2009

Antenatal blood patch in a pregnant woman with spontaneous intracranial hypotension

  • T. Singh

      Affiliations

    • Department of Maternal and Fetal Medicine, St. George’s Hospital NHS Trust, Tooting, London, UK
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorrespondence to: T. Singh, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, St George’s Hospital NHS Trust, Tooting, London.
    • ,
  • F. Schroeder

      Affiliations

    • Department of Anaesthesia, St. George’s Hospital NHS Trust, Tooting, London, UK
    • ,
  • A. Pereira

      Affiliations

    • Department of Neurology, St. George’s Hospital NHS Trust, Tooting, London, UK
    • ,
  • A. Bhide

      Affiliations

    • Department of Maternal and Fetal Medicine, St. George’s Hospital NHS Trust, Tooting, London, UK

Accepted 15 September 2008. published online 22 January 2009.

Abstract 

Spontaneous intracranial hypotension is a condition that presents with postural headaches similar to those caused by accidental dural puncture. The diagnosis is based on clinical presentation, cerebrospinal fluid evaluation and magnetic resonance imaging scanning. We present a case of spontaneous intracranial hypotension with typical clinical and magnetic resonance imaging findings in a pregnant patient who was treated with an epidural blood patch. The blood patch, performed at 32 weeks of gestation, produced transient improvement in symptoms but failed to completely cure the headache, which worsened over the next few days. Symptoms resolved over the subsequent three weeks with conservative therapy.

Keywords: Spontaneous intracranial hypotension, Epidural blood patch, Pregnancy

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PII: S0959-289X(08)00156-8

doi:10.1016/j.ijoa.2008.09.007

International Journal of Obstetric Anesthesia
Volume 18, Issue 2 , Pages 165-168, April 2009

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