Summary The management of accidental dural puncture and postdural puncture headache in obstetric practice continues to be of great interest. This survey aims to explore the current management of this complication in the United Kingdom and compares the findings to a similar survey undertaken in 1993. A postal questionnaire was sent to all maternity units (n = 248). The return rate was 71%. Of these, 144 units (85%) now have written guidelines for the management of accidental dural puncture compared to 58% in 1993. In 47 units (28%), the epidural catheter is now routinely placed intrathecally following accidental dural puncture; in 69 units (41%) the catheter is re‐sited and in the remaining 53 units (31%) either option is allowed. This is in contrast to the previous survey, which found that catheters were re‐sited in 99% of units. Only 31 units (18%) now limit the second stage of labour and 19 (11%) avoid pushing and deliver by ventouse or forceps, whilst 116 units (69%) allow labour to take place without any intervention. Only 44 units (26%) now treat postdural puncture headache with an epidural blood patch as soon as it is diagnosed, whereas in 120 units (71%) the blood patch is performed only after failure of conservative measures. Due to the large increase in the use of the intrathecal catheter following this complication, a follow‐up questionnaire was posted 5 months later to those units (n = 99) that reported this practice in the initial survey, with a 94% response rate. The two most commonly cited reasons for intrathecal catheterisation were to avoid further dural puncture (76%) and to allow immediate analgesia for labour (75%).

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Two distinct normal ranges have been established to aid clinicians recognise normal and abnormal results.

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The use of ultrasound to aid location of the spinal and epidural space is not a new concept but has gained increasing popularity, particularly in woman who are obese, have abnormal spinal anatomy, or where regional placement has or is proving difficult. The benefits and challenges of spinal ultrasound imaging are discussed, with the methods to scan and obtain the right views or planes with the supporting images for spinal and epidural techniques. The use of ultrasound to perform a transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block is also illustrated. The chapter concludes with a section on the additional applications of ultrasound for vascular access and gastric volume estimation.