Epidural blood patch (EBP) is most common treatment of post–dural puncture headache, but its mode of action and effectiveness remain a matter of debate. Now a days Spinal anaesthesia is used widely. This dural puncture is associated with CSF leak which causes headache because of decreased intracranial pressure.  The aim of this study was to assess both the effectiveness of epidural blood patch in treating postdural puncture headache and the predictive factors of failure of EBP on severe post–dural puncture headache. In this prospective study a total of 180 patients were involved. 180  patients received epidural blood patch for postdural puncture headache The EBP effect was classified into complete relief (disappearance of all symptoms),incomplete relief of symptoms (clinically improved patients who recovered sufficiently to perform normal daily activity), and failure (persistence of severe symptoms). The frequency rates of complete relief, incomplete relief of symptoms, and failure after EBP were 79.42%, 8.82% and 11.76% respectively. To conclude Epidural blood patch is an effective treatment of severe post–dural puncture headache.  In the present study it showed a  success rate of 88.24% after receiving first EBP.

Keywords: Epidural blood patch, dural puncture, headache, spinal anaesthesia.

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Dr Terupalli Varaprasada Rao

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