Efficacy of radiologic targeting epidural blood patch for spontaneous intracranial hypotension patients with multiple-level leakages of cerebrospinal fluid: an analysis of 36 cases

Abstract

Thirty-six spontaneous intracranial hypotension patients with multiple-level leakages of cerebrospinal fluid were enrolled in the study.After 30 patients received targeted epidural blood intervention for 2 times and 6 patients received targeted epidural blood intervention for 3 times, the clinical symptoms were completely relieved.During injection of autologous blood, pain at the puncture site occurred in 24 cases, radiating pain in upper extremities in 5 cases, numbness in the upper extremity in 9 cases, radiating pain in lower extremities in 6 cases, numbness in lower extremities in 7 cases, headache in 4 cases, dizziness in 3 cases and transient bradycardia in 3 cases.Most of these symptoms were self-relieved after the end of injection or after slowing the injection rate, and some were self-relieved hours later.Neck stiffness was found in 2 cases and self-relived within a few hours or days after operation, and no severe nervous system-related complications were found.Recurrence happened in 2 cases at 3 months after the end of treatment, and the symptoms were self-relieved after receiving targeted epidural blood intervention for a second time.The patients were followed up for 15-36 months, and no serious nervous system-related complications were observed.Therefore, targeted epidural blood intervention is safe and effective when used to treat spontaneous intracranial hypotension caused by multiple-level leakages of cerebrospinal fluid in patients. Key words: Intracranial hypotention; Subdural effusion; Injections, epidural; Blood patch, epidural