Prophylactic blood patch does not prevent post lumbar puncture headache.
Of 86 patients in whom accidental puncture of the dura occurred during insertion of a needle for induction of epidural analgeisa for labour and delivery, 11 received a prophylactic blood patch at the completion of delivery. Of the 75 patients with no prophylactic blood patch, 59 per cent developed post-lumbar-puncture headache, while 54 per cent of those who had a prophylactic blood patch developed headache. The prophylactic blood patch appears to have no value in preventing post-lumbar-puncture headache in this small group of patients.
D000328:Adult; D000767:Anesthesia, Epidural; D000773:Anesthesia, Obstetrical; D001769:Blood; D004388:Dura Mater / Q000293:injuries*; D004824:Epidural Space; D005260:Female; D006261:Headache / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D049590:Postpartum Period; D011187:Posture; D011247:Pregnancy; D011677:Punctures