Objective: To discuss the pathogenesis, incidence, and clinical presentation of postdural puncture headaches (PDPHs) and to provide a comprehensive evaluation on the pharmacologic management of PDPH.
Data source: A MEDLINE search was used to identify pertinent literature published in English including review articles, case reports, letters, and abstracts. Information was also extracted from textbooks for background purposes.
Study selection: All clinical studies, case reports, abstracts, and letters were included because of the limited amount of literature available on the pharmacologic therapy for PDPH. Related research articles and review articles were also used to provide background information on PDPH.
Data extraction: Methodology and results from clinical trials and abstracts were described and evaluated. Case reports and letters were summarized and critically reviewed for the feasibility of the different treatment modalities. Information on the pathophysiology, incidence and severity, and clinical presentation of PDPH was extracted from related research articles, review articles, and textbooks.
Data synthesis: The epidural blood patch (EBP) is one of the most effective treatments for PDPH. Pharmacologic management of PDPH offers a less invasive treatment modality than the EBP. Numerous drug therapies have been presented in the literature, though few merit clinical application. Caffeine therapy, both oral and parenteral, is the most commonly used pharmacologic treatment modality. Theophylline and sumatriptan are potentially promising agents for the treatment of PDPH. Epidural administration of fluids and drugs is also effective in the treatment of PDPH. Epidural adrenocorticotropic hormone and epidural morphine also demonstrate some potential in the treatment of PDPH. Individual patient characteristics (i.e., HIV, sepsis) need to be considered when deciding on a treatment. More reports, especially clinical studies, are necessary before a definitive statement can be made regarding any one treatment. In the meantime, therapy will be guided by clinical judgement based on the literature reviewed in this article.
Conclusions: Intravenous and oral caffeine are effective and noninvasive treatments for PDPH. Epidural NaCl 0.9% or dextran are alternatives when the EBP is unsuccessful or contraindicated. Several methods of pharmacologic management have been cited in the literature, but all require further evaluation.