Epidural blood patch for treatment of spontaneous intracranial hypotension.

Abstract

Spontaneous intracranial hypotension is an uncommon disease caused by cerebrospinal fluid leakage. We reported a case of a 42-year-old male with postural headache who was diagnosed as having spontaneous intracranial hypotension. His headache did not completely improve by conservative therapies, so he underwent an autologous epidural blood patch. The site of cerebrospinal fluid restoration was identified at the level from the C2 to Th7 epidural space by 111In-DPTA cisternography and computed tomography coupled with myelography, and cervical EBP was performed. Because cerebrospinal fluid drops from the catheter, it is useful to identify the location of the catheter tip under contrast injection X-ray. Rapid and dramatic relief from the headache was obtained, and no serious complications occurred.