The effect of epidural blood patch on hearing loss in patients with severe postdural puncture headache.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the immediate effect of epidural blood patch (EBP) on the hearing loss that can accompany postdural puncture headache (PDPH).


METHODS
Prospective open study.


METHODS
Anesthetic and otolaryngologic departments at a university hospital.


METHODS
16 patients who developed severe PDPH following either myelography or spinal anesthesia.


METHODS
Epidural injection of 15 ml of autologous blood.


RESULTS
Audiometry at 250, 500, 1,000, 2,000, 4,000, and 8,000 Hz before and one hour after the epidural blood patch was performed. Hearing was significantly improved in 12 of the 16 patients studied. The improvement was at least 10 dB at two or more consecutive frequencies, or 5 dB at four or more consecutive frequencies.


CONCLUSIONS
Epidural blood patch improves hearing within one hour in the majority of patients with severe PDPH.
Lybecker
H
H
Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care, Odense University Hospital, Denmark.
Andersen
T
T
Helbo-Hansen
H S
HS
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001299:Audiometry; D017217:Blood Patch, Epidural; D005260:Female; D006261:Headache / Q000150:complications* / Q000209:etiology; D006312:Hearing Loss, Bilateral / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011187:Posture / Q000502:physiology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013129:Spinal Puncture / Q000009:adverse effects*