Sphenopalatine Ganglion Block for Postdural Puncture Headache

Effectiveness of Sphenopalatine Ganglion Block on Postdural Puncture Headache Treatment: A Retrospective Observational Study

Background: Postdural puncture headache (PDPH), which is one of the complications of spinal anesthesia, is a condition that negatively affects the quality of life of patients, causes late mobilization and prolonged hospital stay. Sphenopalatine ganglion block (SGB) has created a minimally invasive, easy, and safe treatment alternative.

Objective: Evaluating the effectiveness of topical SGB on PDPH treatment. Design: Retrospective observational study Setting: Single center tertiary level of care hospital study. The files of PDPH patients between Jan 2018 and Jan 2020 were scanned.

Patients: PDPH patients aged 18-65 are included and any patients with primary/secondary headache history are excluded.

Main outcome measures: Patients were divided into 2 groups. The group that given only conservative treatment was named as Group C, and the group of patients who had additionally been applied SGB was named as Group SGB. Headache severity was measured with Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) at the 1st,3rd, 12th and 24th hours of the treatment, in supine and upright position.

Inclusion Criteria:

• 18-65 years-old
• not having any headache diagnosis (G44 and subgroup according to the International Classification of Diseases-10 classification),
• developed PDPH according to the International Headaches Classification after the neuraxial procedure

Exclusion Criteria:

• history of primary headaches such as migraine, cluster type, tension type
• secondary headache such as preeclampsia / eclampsia, cerebral venous thrombosis, stroke, ruptured aneurysm, hypertensive encephalopathy, pituitary apoplexy, meningitis and subarachnoid hemorrhage
• any local or systemic infection