Does postdural puncture headache left untreated lead to subdural hematoma? Case report and review of the literature

Abstract

The patient was a 39-year-old pregnant woman who was scheduled for cesarean section. Spinal anesthesia was induced using a 26-gauge needle with an atraumatic bevel. Postoperatively, the patient developed cranial subdural hematoma manifesting as severe non-postural headache, associated with right eye tearing, fifth cranial nerve palsy and left hemiparesis. The diagnosis was confirmed by computed tomography scan. The patient was managed by careful neurological follow-up associated with conservative treatment and recovered fully after 12 weeks. Our report reviews the literature on 46 patients who developed a postdural puncture headache complicated by subdural hematoma following spinal or epidural anesthesia. It is possible that postdural puncture headache left untreated may be complicated by the development of subdural hematoma. Patients developing a postdural puncture headache unrelieved by conservative measures, as well as the change from postural to non-postural, require careful follow-up for early diagnosis and management of possible subdural hematoma.