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Original Article
Prolonged Placement of Spinal Catheters Does Not Prevent Postdural Puncture Headache
  1. N. Liu, M.D.*,
  2. A. Montefiore, M.D.**,
  3. N. Kermarec, M.D.*,
  4. A. Rauss, M.D.* and
  5. F. Bonnet, M.D.*
  1. *From the Département d’Anesthésie Réanimation, Hôpital Henri Mondor, Creteil, and the
  2. **Département d'Anesthésie Réanimation, Hôpital Tenon, Paris.
  1. Address correspondence and reprint requests to F. Bonnet, M.D., Département d’Anesthésie Réanimation, Hôpital Henri Mondor, 51, av. du Maréchal de Lattre de Tassigny, 94010 Créteil, France.

Abstract

Objective. To determine whether leaving an intrathecal catheter in place in the postoperative period prevents postdural puncture headache (PDPH).

Methods. Lumbar puncture was performed with an 18-gauge Tuohy needle. 0.5% bupivacaine spinal anesthesia was given through a 20-gauge catheter in 87 patients having orthopedic surgery. Postoperatively, patients were allocated randomly to have the catheter immediately withdrawn (group 1, N = 47) or kept in place for 12 to 24 hours (group 2, N = 40). Patients were questioned by a blinded observer, about PDPH twice a day on postoperative days 1, 2, 3, and 8.

Results. The incidence of PDPH was 9.2%, and this was comparable in the two groups (5 patients in group 1 and 3 patients in group 2).

Conclusion. Leaving the intrathecal catheter in place in the postoperative period for 12 to 24 hours does not prevent PDPH.

  • Anesthetic techniques
  • continuous spinal anesthesia
  • regional anesthesia
  • complications
  • postdural puncture headache.

https://doi.org/10.1136/rapm-00115550-199318020-00010

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