title: Meningitis following spinal anaesthesia in an obstetric patient.
abstract: Meningitis following lumbar puncture and spinal anaesthesia is a rare but serious complication. A 19-year-old woman was administered spinal anaesthesia at another centre prior to a Caesarean section. The following day she experienced headaches. On the fourth day, she started vomiting and having convulsions, and became agitated. Meningitis was diagnosed based on a clinical examination and analysis of a lumbar puncture sample. After 21 days of treatment, she was discharged. Meningitis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of a patient presenting with headaches following spinal anaesthesia. The causes of meningitis following spinal anaesthesia are debated, and it is difficult to distinguish between aseptic and bacterial meningitis. It should be compulsory to wear a face mask while performing a dural puncture.
authors.affiliation: MD & Assistant Professor of Anesthesia, Department of Anesthesiology and Reanimation, Ataturk University School of Medicine, Turkey mine.celik74@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Mine
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Celik
authors.affiliation: MD & Professor of Anesthesia, Department of Anesthesiology and Reanimation, Ataturk University School of Medicine, Turkey.
authors.forename: Mehmet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kizilkaya
authors.affiliation: MD & Assistant Professor of Anesthesia, Department of Anesthesiology and Reanimation, Ataturk University School of Medicine, Turkey.
authors.forename: Aysenur
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dostbil
authors.affiliation: MD & Professor of Anesthesia, Department of Anesthesiology and Reanimation, Ataturk University School of Medicine, Turkey.
authors.forename: Nazim
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Dogan
authors.affiliation: MD & Professor of Infection Diseases, Department of Infection Disease, Ataturk University School of Medicine, Turkey.
authors.forename: Mehmet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Parlak
authors.affiliation: MD, Department of Infection Disease, Ataturk University School of Medicine, Turkey.
authors.forename: Fatma Kesmez
authors.initials: FK
authors.lastname: Can
authors.affiliation: MD, Department of Infection Disease, Ataturk University School of Medicine, Turkey.
authors.forename: Meral
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bayar
mesh_terms: D000773:Anesthesia, Obstetrical / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000775:Anesthesia, Spinal / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002585:Cesarean Section; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008581:Meningitis / Q000209:etiology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Caesarean section; meningitis; spinal anaesthesia