The incidence of post-dural puncture headache in the obese parturient compared to the non-obese parturient after an accidental dural puncture: a systematic review protocol.

Abstract

The purpose of this systematic review is to determine if there is a difference in the incidence of post-dural puncture headache in the obese parturient compared to the non-obese parturient after an accidental dural puncture. Placement of an epidural catheter is a common technique to ease the pain of childbirth. One potential complication is a headache that occurs if the dura mater is accidentally punctured with the epidural needle during the procedure. Certain factors impact the likelihood of a postdural puncture headache after an accidental dural puncture in parturients. One potential factor is obesity. There is evidence to suggest that obesity lowers the risk of postdural puncture headache, although not all studies agree. There are no current or active systematic reviews that address whether or not obesity in parturients is protective against postdural puncture headache. Studies with parturients aged 18 to 45 who have had a documented accidental dural puncture with an epidural needle will be included in this review. Studies with parturients with a history of spinal surgery or pre-existing headache pathology will be excluded. Studies involving non-obstetrical patients will be excluded. A systematic search of MEDLINE, CINAHL Complete, Scopus, and Wiley Online Library will be conducted to identify studies on the topic of interest. Studies will be selected for review based on the inclusion criteria and will be appraised by two reviewers using the appropriate JBI standardized appraisal tool. 136047 (PROSPERO).