Post-laminectomy cerebrospinal fluid fistula treated with epidural blood patch.
OBJECTIVES AND SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Cerebrospinal fluid fistula after spinal surgery is associated with a definite risk of meningitis or discitis, and as a result, early active intervention usually is recommended.


RESULTS
This report describes the successful use of an epidural blood patch after a more conventional intervention--namely, surgical re-exploration--had failed to control a postoperative cerebrospinal fluid leak.


CONCLUSIONS
The techniques involved in performing a blood patch after spinal surgery may well differ from those usually recommended in the management of spinal headache resulting from other causes of dural puncture.
Maycock
N F
NF
Department of Anaesthesia, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Adelaide, South Australia.
van Essen
J
J
Pfitzner
J
J
D000368:Aged; D017217:Blood Patch, Epidural; D002555:Cerebrospinal Fluid; D017577:Cutaneous Fistula / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D005402:Fistula / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007796:Laminectomy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male