Case report: epidural blood patch in the treatment of abducens palsy after a dural puncture.
OBJECTIVE
To describe a case of iatrogenically induced abducens nerve palsy following a diagnostic lumbar puncture, and to review the evidence for blood patching in the management of sixth cranial nerve palsy after dural puncture.


METHODS
A 45-yr-old woman developed post-dural puncture headache with bilateral abducens palsy following a diagnostic lumbar puncture. Magnetic resonance imaging showed findings compatible with intracranial hypotension. An epidural blood patch was performed five days after the onset of diplopia and ten days following the dural puncture. After blood patching, the patient reported relief of the headache, but still complained of diplopia. The palsies recovered spontaneously 21 months after the dural puncture.


CONCLUSIONS
Experience from this case as well as other case report evidence suggest that an epidural blood patch performed more than 24 hr after the onset of a sixth cranial nerve palsy consistently fails to relieve diplopia. An epidural blood patch executed within 24 hr from the onset of diplopia could possibly lead to partial improvement and/or earlier resolution of symptoms.
Béchard
Philippe
P
Department of Anesthesiology, Hôtel-Dieu de Lévis Hospital, Affiliated center to Laval University, 143, rue Wolfe, Lévis, Québec G6V 3Z1, Canada. morphee@ssss.gouv.qc.ca
Perron
Gino
G
Larochelle
Denis
D
Lacroix
Mélanie
M
Labourdette
Annie
A
Dolbec
Pierre
P
D020434:Abducens Nerve Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D000767:Anesthesia, Epidural; D017217:Blood Patch, Epidural / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D013129:Spinal Puncture / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013997:Time Factors; D017211:Treatment Failure