Management of postdural puncture headache in pediatric using an epidural catheter for an epidural blood patch

Abstract

We report the case of an 8-year-old child suspected to have postdural puncture headache after multiple lumbar punctures for collection of cerebrospinal fluid for analysis. His symptoms included headache, nonprojectile vomiting, and lethargy. When conservative management failed, an epidural blood patch was applied and the depth of the epidural space was determined using MRI. Epidural blood patch treatment was successful, and an epidural catheter was left in situ, in case a second patch was required.

Keywords

• anesthesia; child; conservative treatment; epidural; epidural blood patch; epidural space; headache; magnetic resonance imaging; postdural puncture headache; spinal puncture
• vomiting