Effect of Position and Needle Bevel Direction on the Postdural Puncture Headache in Spinal Anesthesia

Lee, Il Ok

Abstract

Postdural puncture headache is one of the well-known complications of spinal anesthesia. The sitting position is adequate for perineal and urologic operations, or when obesity makes difficult identification of midline anatomy in the lateral position. This study was done to see the effect of position (lateral or sitting position during spinal anesthesia), needle bevel direction (parallel or vertical to longitudinal dural fiber), and angle of approach (paramedian or midline) on the incidence, onset, location, severity of postdural puncture headache in the 160 patients underwent spinal anesthesia with 25-gauge Quincke needles. We observe the following results: 1) The total incidence of postdural puncture headache was 8.1%(13 cases). 2) The incidence of postdural puncture headache were 6%(lateral position), l0%(sitting position), 3%(parallel to longitudinal dural fiber), 11%(vertical to longitudinal dural fiber), 8%(paramedian approach) and 9%(midline approach). A significant increase in incidence was found with 25-gauge Quincke needles when the bevels were oriented so as to be vertical rather than parallel to the longitudinal dural fibers. 3) The onset of postdural puncture headache were within 3 days after spinal anesthesia in the almost cases (92.3%). 4) The location of postdural puncture headache were frontal(31%), occipital(15%), temporal(8%), and whole region(46%). 5) According to the duration of postdural puncture headache, two day headache was 31%, four day one was 15%, six day one was 15%, and over six day one was 38%. A significant increase in duration was found with sitting position when the bevels were oriented so as to bc vertical rather than parallel to the longitudinal dural fibers. 6) The treatments of postdural puncture headache were bed rest(20%), analgesics(54%), and epidural blood patch(31%). In conclusion, the significant increase in incidence and duration were found with 25-gauge Quincke needles when the bevels were oriented so as to be vertical rather than parallel to the longitudinal dural fibers.