Purva Kumrawat1 , Krishna Prasad P.2 , Shankaranarayana P.3
BACKGROUND Post-Dural Puncture Headache (PDPH) is a common complication following subarachnoid blockade or inadvertent dural puncture while locating the epidural space. Standard treatment for PDPH is epidural blood patch, but it is an invasive intervention. Sphenopalatine ganglion block (SPGB) may be a much safer and non-invasive alternative. We wanted to study the efficacy of SPGB for treatment of PDPH as assessed by reduction in pain scores to <4 via numerical pain rating scale (NRS), (0- no pain to 10- worst pain imaginable). We also wanted to assess the onset and duration of analgesia as well as development of any adverse effects associated with the block. METHODS This is a quasi-experimental study conducted among 18 patients of ASA physical status 1 and 2, who were suffering from headache after spinal anesthesia within 7 days of surgery. Patients were divided into two groups. Group A, where PDPH was treated with conservative management (injection paracetamol 1g intravenous) and Group B, where PDPH was treated with SPGB. Independent ttest was used for statistical analysis. RESULTS Group B patients demonstrated significant relief in headache within 30 min of block (p <0.001) and mean pain score was low in first 6 hrs. as compared to group A. CONCLUSIONS Study demonstrated SPGB to be better with quicker pain relief in patients suffering from PDPH as compared to conventional management.
