title: Lumbar blood patching for proximal CSF leaks: where does the blood go?
abstract: Epidural blood patching (EBP) is an important therapeutic approach in managing spontaneous cerebrospinal fluid leaks. The mechanism of action of blood patching is likely to be twofold; fluid replacement having an immediate tamponade effect and the proximal flow of blood products having a 'plug' effect. The negative pressure gradient within the epidural space may be important to the rostral flow of injected blood and is possibly increased in intracranial hypotension.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Barwon Health, Barwon Heads, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Cassie
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nesbitt
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Barwon Health, Geelong, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Shalini
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Amukotuwa
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Barwon Health, Geelong, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Caron
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chapman
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Barwon Health, Geelong, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Batchelor
mesh_terms: D000063:Accidents, Traffic; D000328:Adult; D017217:Blood Patch, Epidural / Q000379:methods; D065634:Cerebrospinal Fluid Leak / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D004824:Epidural Space / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005260:Female; D006261:Headache / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D008161:Lumbosacral Region; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D012307:Risk Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome