An audit of epidural blood patch after accidental dural puncture with a Tuohy needle in obstetric patients

Abstract

We report the results of a prospective audit of accidental dural puncture in 100 obstetric patients in a single tertiary referral institution during the period 1993 to 1999. The post dural puncture headache rate was 81%. Of the 81 parturients with post dural puncture headache, 58 (72%) received a therapeutic epidural blood patch, using 7 to 25 mL of autologous blood. After the initial blood patch, complete relief of headache was obtained in 67% and complete or partial relief in 95%. However, severe headache returned in 31% and 28% received more than one blood patch. The incidence of complete relief of headache with one blood patch or more was 50%, with 38% achieving partial relief and 12% ha..