title: Postdural puncture headache is not an age-related symptom in children: a prospective, open-randomized, parallel group study comparing a22-gauge Quincke with a 22-gauge Whitacre needle.
abstract: Many reports have shown a low incidence of postdural puncture headache (PDPH) and other complaints in young children. The objective of this open-randomized, prospective, parallel group study was to compare the use of a cutting point spinal needle (22-G Quincke) with a pencil point spinal needle (22-G Whitacre) in children. We studied the puncture characteristics, success rate and incidence of postpuncture complaints in 57 children, aged 8 months to 15 years, following 98 lumbar punctures (LP). The patient/parents completed a diary at 3 and 7 days after LP. The response rate was 97%. The incidence of PDPH was similar, 15% in the Quincke group and 9% in the Whitacre group (P=0.42). The risk of developing a PDPH was not dependent on the age (r < 0.00, P=0.67). Eight of the 11 PDPHs developed in children younger than 10 years, the youngest being 23-months-old.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care, Kuopio University, Finland.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kokki
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Salonvaara
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Herrgård
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Onen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004388:Dura Mater / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006261:Headache / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009339:Needles / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011292:Premedication; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013129:Spinal Puncture / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000295:instrumentation*