An important iatrogenic cause of patient morbidity in modern day anesthesia and pain management practice after attempted epidural block is Post Dural Puncture Headache (PDPH). The incidence of which in the literature, ranges from 0.16% to 1.3% in experienced hands. Postdural puncture headache develops in 16%–86% after attempted epidural block with large bore needles. In recent years, spinal needles have undergone various alterations to reduce the incidence of post dural puncture headache.
The principal factor responsible for the development of a dural puncture headache is the size of the dural perforation. Other factors such as the shape of the dural perforation and the orientation of the spinal needle have a less significant role. Preventive factors for PDPH Needle size Large spinal needles clearly produce large dural perforations where the likelihood of a dural puncture headache is…
