Postpartum spinal subdural hematoma: irrelevant epidural blood patch: a case report

Abstract

We report a healthy patient with postpartum headache and neck stiffness which were diagnosed as symptoms of pseudoaneurysm of vertebral artery. She had received a Cesarean section under the spinal anesthesia, and complaint of headache and neck stiffness. Epidural blood patches were done twice, but symptoms persisted. Eight days later, she experienced sensory disturbance and emergent laminectomy was done. When persistent postpartum headache occurs after epidural blood patch, more precise differential diagnosis should be made and considering other possible pathologies.

Keywords

• epidural blood patch
• postdural puncture headache
• postpartum headache
• pseudoaneurysm
• spinal subdural hematoma