Prediction of Post-dural Puncture Headache in Parturients Undergoing Elective Caesarean Section
Prediction of Post-dural Puncture Headache in Parturients Undergoing Elective Caesarean Section
The parturients are at particular risk of post dural puncture headache (PDPH) because of
 their sex, young age, and the widespread application of spinal and epidural anesthesia. PDPH
 has a negative impact on quality of life, patient satisfaction, the postpartum experience
 with the mother's inability to bond with and care for her baby and it increases the economic
 burden associated with childbirth. Therefore, it is necessary to prevent or decrease its
 incidence and severity.

 TCD enables measurement of the blood flow velocity in intracranial arteries and its
 parameters are affected by both fluctuations in intracranial pressure and changes in cerebral
 vessel diameters. The possibility of equipment mobilization, the opportunity of repeated
 bedside technique together with the noninvasive nature, makes TCD measurements attractive in
 the attempt to estimate CBF and offers potential application to predict and follow patients
 with PDPH.
PDPH is described as severe "searing and spreading like hot metal" distributed over the
 occipital and frontal areas radiating to the neck and shoulders. 90% of headache will occur
 within three days of the procedure, and 66% within the first 48 hours. The PDPH rarely
 develops between 5 and 14 days after the technique however it may immediately occur after
 dural puncture but it is rare and should pay attention of the physician to alternative
 causes. The pain is increased by head movement, upright posture and relieved by lying down.
 It resolves either spontaneously within 7 days or within 48 h after effective treatment which
 is usually consists of fluid therapy, analgesics, sumatriptan and caffeine. Epidural blood
 patch remained the gold standard therapy but it is an invasive technique.

 The exact etiology of PDPH is unknown; there is two hypothesis attempts to explain the cause.
 First it's known that dural tear leads to cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak and decreased volume
 of CSF result in intracranial hypotension which cause on pain sensitive intracranial
 structures that become stretched when assuming upright position result in pain. Second,
 intracranial volume is constant and equal to the sum of intracranial blood, CSF, and brain
 matter. After loss of CSF a compensatory reflex vasodilatation occur in the same pain
 sensitive blood vessels and this result in pain.

 The association of common risk factors like female gender, particularly females during
 pregnancy, age groups of 20 - 40 years, a prior history of chronic headache, and a lower body
 mass index expose the patient to PDPH. The identification of factors that predict the
 likelihood of PDPH is important so that measures can be taken to minimize this painful
 complication resulting from spinal anesthesia.

 Transcranial Doppler ultrasound (TCD) is a portable, safe, noninvasive and real-time tool for
 assessing intracranial blood hemodynamics. The first description of the technique was by Rune
 Aaslid in early 20th century and it has gained increasing acceptance as an accurate
 diagnostic and therapeutic tool in both cerebrovascular disease and neurocritical care. TCD
 enables measurement of the blood flow velocity in intracranial arteries and several Studies
 have shown that its parameters are affected by both fluctuations in intracranial pressure and
 changes in cerebral vessel diameters. So, as PDPH may be resulted from significant changes in
 cerebral blood flow, it could be visualized by TCD.

 The possibility of equipment mobilization, the opportunity of repeated bedside technique
 together with the noninvasive nature, makes TCD measurements attractive in the attempt to
 estimate CBF and offers potential application to predict and follow patients with PDPH.
Inclusion Criteria:

 -  Patient acceptance.

 -  Pregnant female undergoing Elective caesarean section under spinal anesthesia.

 -  Age 18-40 years old.

 -  ASA I and ASA II.

 -  Accepted mental state of the patient.

 Exclusion Criteria:

 -  Patient refusal.

 -  Contraindications to regional anesthesia as local infection, coagulopathy,….etc

 -  ASA Grade 3 and 4.

 -  Emergent caesarean section.

 -  Inadequate temporal window.

 -  Hypertensive disorders of the pregnancy.

 -  Atrial fibrillation.

 -  Significant fetal illness.

 -  History of allergy to local anesthetics.