title: Pneumocephalus following an epidural blood patch procedure: an unusual cause of severe headache.
abstract: Pneumocephalus is a rare complication of anesthetic procedures involving the epidural space. We report the case of a 36-year-old woman who developed a severe headache due to pneumocephalus that occurred during an epidural blood patching procedure. This report reviews the blood patch procedure and its attendant complications. Emergency physicians should be aware of the potential complications of this commonly performed procedure and include iatrogenic pneumocephalus in the differential diagnosis of severe headache in the proper clinical scenario.
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, York Hospital, Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: T J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Krisanda
authors.forename: S O
authors.initials: SO
authors.lastname: Laucks
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000767:Anesthesia, Epidural / Q000009:adverse effects; D000773:Anesthesia, Obstetrical / Q000009:adverse effects; D017217:Blood Patch, Epidural / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006261:Headache / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D007049:Iatrogenic Disease; D011007:Pneumocephalus / Q000209:etiology*