Postdural Puncture Headache Related to Procedure: Incidence and Risk Factors After Neuraxial Anesthesia and Spinal Procedures

Objective Postdural puncture headache (PDPH) is a potential complication of certain neuraxial anesthesia and spinal procedures, and some risk factors for PDPH have been identified. However, there have been no detailed analyses of rates and risk factors of PDPH after various spinal and neuraxial anesthesia procedures. Methods Patient data from January 1, 2015, to December 31, 2017, were retrospectively analyzed. The patients underwent dural puncture procedures (spinal anesthesia, lumbar puncture [spinal tap], lumbar cerebrospinal fluid [CSF] drainage) or nondural puncture procedures (transforaminal epidural injection, interlaminar epidural injection, epidural catheterization with patient-controlled analgesia for delivery). PDPH incidence and risk factors were evaluated. Results For dural puncture procedures, PDPH incidence was 2.96%, and risk factors were younger age, female sex, and lumbar puncture. Larger needle gauge was a risk factor according to Student t-test but not during logistic regression analysis. PDPH incidence was higher after lumbar puncture using a 22 G Tuohy needle (4.63%) than after lumbar CSF drainage using an 18 G Tuohy needle (3.05%). For nondural puncture procedures, PDPH incidence was 0.53% and did not differ between procedure types; no risk factors were identified. Conclusions PDPH incidence and risk factors depended on the type of neuraxial anesthesia and spinal procedures. PDPH incidence after lumbar puncture using a 22 G Tuohy needle was higher than that after lumbar CSF drainage using an 18 G Tuohy needle, suggesting that catheter insertion may reduce PDPH risk. In non-dural puncture procedures, PDPH risk did not differ according to type of procedure, and no risk factors were found.