The Efficacy of a Fluoroscopy Guided Epidural Autologous Blood Patch In the Treatment of a Post-Dural Puncture Headache

• Main Authors: Ji Eun Park, Eugene Lee, Joon Woo Lee, Yusuhn Kang, Joong Mo Ahn, Heung Sik Kang
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: The Korean Society of Radiology 2018-04-01
• Series: 대한영상의학회지
• Subjects: blood patch; epidural; fluoroscopy; post-dural puncture headache
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.3348/jksr.2018.78.4.242

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy of a fluoroscopy-guided epidural blood patch (EBP) in the treatment of a post-dural puncture headache (PDPH). Materials and Methods: From November 2013 to April 2017, a total of 164 patients (76 males, 88 females, mean age 40.7 years, age range 12 to 87 years) underwent a fluoroscopy guided EBP for the treatment of PDPH in the department of radiology. The treatment outcomes were classified as follows: complete relief, incomplete relief, failure, and recurrence. In the case of recurrence, the duration between the date of the first EBP and the date of recurrence was described. The effectiveness of the second EBP was also evaluated. Results: In 164 PDPH patients, complete relief was achieved in 157 patients (95.8%), incomplete relief was achieved in 1 patient (0.6%), failure in 2 patients (1.2%) and recurrence in 4 patients after the first EBP. All 4 recurrence patients and the 2 failure patients were discharged with complete relief after receiving one additional EBP. Conclusion: In patients with PDPH, a fluoroscopy-guided EBP is an effective treatment. Moreover, an additional EBP can be considered in the clinical failure or recurrence of PDPH after the first EBP.