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Introduction Post-dural puncture headache (PDPH) is defined as an orthostatic headache that develops within the first few days after performing a spinal tap and it is related to extravasation of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) into the epidural space, resulting in CSF hypovolemia and hypotension. The risk factors for PDPH are not yet fully understood. Objective To evaluate the risk of spontaneously reported PDPH according to the size and type of spinal tap needle. Methods A total of 4589 patients undergoing outpatient lumbar puncture (LP) were included. All CSF collections were performed at Senne Liquor Diagnostico, a laboratory specialized in CSF collection and analysis. Patients were instructed to report by telephone if they had orthostatic headache during the first 7 days after LP to the medical team of the laboratory. Patients with previous headache were instructed to report any change in the headache pattern during the same period. Needle gauge was classified into two groups: 1) 25G or less and 2) greater than 25G. Two types of needles were used and compared: 1) Pencil point and 2) Quincke. Comparisons of the percentages of spontaneous reports of PDPH were made using the chi-square test. Results 141 patients (3.07%) reported PDPH to the laboratory's medical team. Needles of 25G gauge or less were used in 31.8% of cases. The percentage of patients reporting PHD in the group of 25G or less needles was 1.9% versus 3.6% in the group of larger than 25G needles (P=0.003). Pencil point needles were used in 10.6% of cases. The percentage of PHD among pencil point group was 1.4% versus 3.2% in Quincke group (P=0.026). Conclusion 25G or finer gauge needles as well as pencil point type needles significantly reduced the risk of spontaneously reported PHD.

Pseudotumor cerebri is a syndrome that results from increased intracranial pressure. The main symptoms are headache, vision disturbances, and pulsatile tinnitus. Definitive diagnosis requires the presence of clinical and/or radiological signs of intracranial hypertension, high opening pressure on lumbar puncture (LP), and normal CSF constitution. Several studies have evaluated new contributions of CSF in the clinical evaluation and the in understanding of the pathophysiology of pseudotumor cerebri. Such studies have included the analysis of inflammatory biomarkers, adipokines, proteomic analysis, and CSF flow studies. In this review, we present the main results obtained so far and critically discuss the present status and the potential role of research involving the CSF in this condition. Based on current knowledge, it is possible to conclude that CSF research with new biomarkers has not yet provided information that can be employed in clinical practice at this moment. However, a better understanding of the constitution and dynamics of CSF circulation in patients with pseudotumor cerebri has brought some information about this condition and can potentially improve our knowledge about this condition in the future.

Objective The aim of this study was to identify potential visual prognostic markers in patients with idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH). Methods Patients with IIH of an outpatient headache clinic in São Paulo, Brazil, were retrospectively evaluated and divided in two groups with and without the presence of permanent visual deficit attributed to IIH. Body mass index (BMI), opening CSF pressure, and the frequency of IIH related MRI abnormalities were compared between these two groups. Results Twenty-nine patients, with 35,39±9,93 years, being twenty-eight female (96.55%) were included in the study. Reduced visual acuity attributed to IIH was registered in 16 (55.17%). According to BMI 17.4% had overweight and 82.6% were obese. Brain MRI was normal in 6 (20.69%). BMI, obesity, and the presence of MRI abnormalities were not associated with visual impairment. Initial CSF opening pressure was significantly higher in the group of patients with reduced visual acuity (40.4±13.14 x 30.5±3.41, P=0,015). Conclusion Higher CSF opening pressure at onset was significantly associated with a higher percentage of visual impairment in patients with IIH suggesting this measure as a potential prognostic marker for patients with IIH.

Objective To present a rare cause of thunderclap headache Case presentation Female patient, 39 years old, was admitted to the emergency department of a private hospital in the city of São Paulo, after a sudden and explosive headache followed by two episodes of syncope and motor deficit in the left upper limb. Neurological examination showed weakness of the left upper limb without sensitive impairment. She had previous history of bipolar affective disorder, chronic anemia, and overweight with previous bariatric surgery. The patient was submitted to computed tomography (CT), arterial angiotomography of the skull and cervical neck, which showed rare small gaseous foci in the perivertebral soft tissues and extradural site on the left side in the craniovertebral transition, near the foramen magnum. Small foci of pneumocephalus were found in the posterior fossa, near the left sphenopetrous fissure. Electroneuromyography (ENMG) of four limbs and brain and cervical magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were performed 48 hours after initial CT scan. ENMG was normal and MRI showed no more expression of the changes described on CT. She was treated with analgesia and was discharged with full reversion of initial symptoms. Conclusion Spontaneous pneumorrhachia is rare disease and is characterized by the presence of air in the spinal canal, both in the intradural and extradural compartments. It is usually benign with spontaneous resolution. Our patient was included in a stroke investigation protocol, due to the thunderclap headache and focal motor deficit. CT revealed the diagnosis. The cervical CT that was performed in the context of cervical CT angiography of the stroke protocol allowed the correct diagnosis. Key-words: Thunderclap headache, Spontaneous Pneumorrhachia, Cervical Computed Tomography Angiography.

Introduction Post-dural punction headache (PDH) is defined as an orthostatic headache that develops within the first few days after performing a spinal tap and it is related to extravasation of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) into the epidural space, resulting in hypovolemia and CSF hypotension. The risk factors for PDH are not yet fully understood. Objective To evaluate the risk of spontaneously reported PDH according to the size and type of spinal tap needle. Methods A total of 4589 patients undergoing outpatient lumbar puncture were included. All CSF collections were performed at Senne Liquor Diagnostico, a laboratory specialized in CSF collection and analysis. Patients were instructed to report by telephone the onset of orthostatic headache during the first 7 days after the puncture to the medical team of the laboratory. Patients with previous headache were instructed to report any change in the headache pattern during the same period. Needle gauge was classified into two groups: 1) 25G or less and 2) greater than 25G. Two types of needles were used and compared: 1) Pencil point and 2) Quincke. Comparisons of the percentages of spontaneous reports of PDH were made using the chi-square test. Results 141 patients (3.07%) reported PHD to the laboratory's medical team. Needles of 25G gauge or less were used in 31.8% of cases. The percentage of patients reporting PHD in the group of 25G or less needles was 1.9% versus 3.6% in the group of greater than 25G needles (P=0.003). Pencil point needles were used in 10.6% of cases. The percentage of PHD among pencil point group was 1.4% versus 3.2% in Quincke group (P=0.026). Conclusion 25G or finer gauge needles as well as pencil point type needles significantly reduced the risk of spontaneously reported PHD. Key-words: Post-dural punction headache, Spinal Tap, Spinal Tap Needle.

Introduction Patients with headache complaints are among those who most frequently seek care in emergency units. Unfortunately, the assistance provided to these patients frequently does not reflect the best scientific evidence, compromising clinical results and exposing patients to unacceptable risks and unnecessary procedures. Among these errors, we cite the high rate of prescription of opioids for primary headaches, the excessive number of unnecessary CT scans, high stay rates in emergency units, and high rate of hospital admissions. Objectives To evaluate changes in care outcomes after beginning a care protocol in a private hospital network. Methods We evaluated all the headache data in the emergence units of Americas Serviços Médicos, a private hospitals network with 18 units distributed in 3 regions of Brazil. Headache was identified in the electronic medical record system through the international code of diseases (CID). The following data were collected: rate of opioids prescription, rate of TC scan, time of stay in emergence room, hospitalization rate, and hospital length of stay. Data were collected in the four months before the protocol (pre-protocol) and in the last four months (post-protocol). Categorical data were evaluated with chi-square and continuous data with unpaired t test. Results The data of 9,060 patients in the pre-protocol and 8,828 patients in the post-protocol periods were assessed. The rate of opioids prescription reduced from 19.9% to 18.5% (P=0.0173). The rate of CT scan was 16.75 in pre and post protocol periods P=1). The stay time in emergence room was 227.46±61.07 minutes in the pre and 196±16.11 in the post protocol period (P=0.37). The rate of hospitalization increased from 1,53% in the pre to 2.24% in the post protocol period (P=0.005). The length of hospital stay reduced from 5.9±2.2 in the pre to 3.5±0.6 in... (To see the complet abstract, please, check out the PDF.)

Introduction A thunderclap headache is a severe headache that starts suddenly and may be a sign of a condition that can be life threatening. Objective To present a case of a rare cause of thunderclap headache. Case presentation A 37-year-old female patient was admitted in the neurological emergence service of a private hospital in the city of São Paulo. She had sudden, explosive, and pulsatile headache, with photophobia and phonophobia. The neurological examination had no focal signs. She had deep vein thrombosis in 2014 in the past and since then she has been irregularly using Warfarin. She underwent CT and MRI of the skull that showed enlargement of the bilateral retrovermian and retrocerebellar cerebrospinal fluid space, with thin membranes/septations inside, and heterogeneous content, with deposition of hemoglobin degradation products. Such findings are consistent with a retrovermian arachnoid cyst with hemorrhagic content. The INR was 1. Conservative and symptomatic treatment was started, and control CT was performed on the second day of hospitalization, demonstrating almost complete reabsorption of hematic material. The patient was discharged after 2 days of hospitalization with complete headache improvement. Conclusion Arachnoid cysts are collections of fluid located between the meningeal membranes. They are congenital and are formed due to a valve defect in the arachnoid membranes leading to a collection of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in its interior. Most arachnoid cysts are an incidental finding. About 1 to 2% of the population has an arachnoid cyst and symptoms appear when the cyst increases in size or bleeds. Our patient had a are complication of and arachnoid cyst not related with the use of anticoagulant. Keywords: Thunderclap headache, Arachnoid Cyst Bleeding, Arachnoid Cyst.