Epidural blood patches are effective for postdural puncture headache in pediatrics – a 10‐year experience

Abstract

If PDPH symptoms are severe and are not relieved with conservative treatment, EBP is a highly effective procedure in pediatric patients.

Postdural puncture headache and epidural blood patch use in elderly patients

“…However, the use of EBP in the elderly is rarely reported. Our data indicate that elderly patients may develop also severe symptoms after diagnostic and therapeutic LP and that EBP can be as effective as in younger adults [4,9] and in children [2]. The success rate of 85% was similar to that reported in adults (61%) [9], in parturients (76%) [4], and in children (85%) [2].…”

“…However, PDPH necessitating EBP was less common in the elderly than that in younger adults and adolescent. During the same period, 129 parturients [4] and 36 adolescents [2] had EBP in KUH and SCH vs 19 elderly in the present study. However, it must be remembered that Timing of EBP must be considered carefully.…”

“…The timing of EBP in the present study, with a median of 96 hours, was longer than suggested [16,17] and reported [18]. However, the optimal timing has not been established, but there are studies that suggest that EBPs performed 48 hours or later after LP could be more efficacious than early EBP [2,4,9,19]. The spontaneous recovery rate of PDPH may be high when small-gauge pencil-point needles are used for LP.…”

“…However, in some cases, the symptoms may last and hamper the activities of daily living. Although EBP is well known to be effective to treat PDPH in children [2] and younger adults [9], not much is known about the need or efficacy in elderly patients. As the symptoms and consequences of untreated PDPH may be severe, it is important to know the incidence and efficacy of EBP also in the elderly.…”

“…Postdural puncture headache (PDPH) is a known complication of lumbar puncture (LP) in younger adults [1] and in children [2]. The prognosis of PDPH is good if LP has been made with thin, pencil-point needle, and some patients may recover with conservative approach.…”