title: Prolonged placement of spinal catheters does not prevent postdural puncture headache.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether leaving an intrathecal catheter in place in the postoperative period prevents postdural puncture headache (PDPH).
  
  
  METHODS
  Lumbar puncture was performed with an 18-gauge Tuohy needle. 0.5% bupivacaine spinal anesthesia was given through a 20-gauge catheter in 87 patients having orthopedic surgery. Postoperatively, patients were allocated randomly to have the catheter immediately withdrawn (group 1, N = 47) or kept in place for 12 to 24 hours (group 2, N = 40). Patients were questioned by a blinded observer, about PDPH twice a day on postoperative days 1, 2, 3, and 8.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The incidence of PDPH was 9.2%, and this was comparable in the two groups (5 patients in group 1 and 3 patients in group 2).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Leaving the intrathecal catheter in place in the postoperative period for 12 to 24 hours does not prevent PDPH.
authors: Département d'Anesthésie Réanimation, Hôpital Henri Mondor, Creteil, France.
authors: N
authors: N
authors: Liu
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Montefiore
authors: N
authors: N
authors: Kermarec
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Rauss
authors: F
authors: F
authors: Bonnet
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000775:Anesthesia, Spinal; D002045:Bupivacaine; D002404:Catheterization; D005260:Female; D006261:Headache / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009985:Orthopedics; D013129:Spinal Puncture / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D002045:Bupivacaine