Blood Patch Research Articles

Acquired tonsillar herniation related to spontaneous intracranial hypotension: case reports.

Acquired prolapse of the cerebellar tonsils in spontaneous intracranial hypotension (SIH) patients is rare. This study aims to evaluate neuroimaging changes of acquired prolapse of the cerebellar tonsils below the foramen magnum in SIH patients due to spontaneous spinal cerebrospinal fluid leakage, which was treated by targeted epidural blood patches (EBP). We retrospectively reviewed clinical and neuroimaging characteristics of 5 cases of SIH with acquired prolapse of the cerebellar tonsils that received targeted EBP in our institution from January 2013 to December 2016. Of these SIH patients, all of them suffered from an orthostatic headache. Initial cranial MRI demonstrated descent of the cerebellar tonsils ≥5 mm. Intrathecal gadolinium-enhanced spinal MR myelography and/or spinal MR hydrography were performed to evaluate the level of spinal cerebrospinal fluid leakage. Symptoms were alleviated in all 5 patients after two (n = 4), or three (n = 1) targeted EBP during hospitalization. Follow-up cranial MRI revealed that the descent of cerebellar tonsils was reversed after EBP treatment. Acquired tonsillar herniation can occur in patients with SIH and spinal cerebrospinal fluid leakage. Symptoms of these patients may be resolved and radiologic findings may be reversed after EBP treatment.

Ultrasonic optic nerve sheath diameter can be used as a diagnostic measure after accidental dural puncture during cesarean section: a case report

BackgroundParturients are prone to postdural puncture headache (PDPH) after epidural puncture. Cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) is a fatal complication of PDPH. The main symptom of both is headache, however, the mechanism is not similar. For persistent PDPH, early differential diagnosis from CVST is essential. Optic nerve sheath diameter (ONSD) measurements can be used to identify changes in intracranial pressure as an auxiliary tool to distinguish the cause of headache.Case presentationThe dura of a 32-year-old woman undergoing cesarean section was accidentally penetrated while administering epidural anesthesia, and the patient developed PDPH the subsequent day. The patient refused epidural blood patch (EBP) treatment and was discharged after conservative treatment. Fourteen days post-discharge, she was readmitted for a seizure. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and Magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) indicated low cranial pressure syndrome and superior sagittal sinus thrombosis with acute infarction. The next morning, the EBP was performed with 15 ml autologous blood. Subsequently, the headache symptoms decreased during the day and worsened at night. ONSD measurement suggested dilation of the optic nerve sheath, and subsequently, the patient showed intracranial hypertension with papilledema. After dehydration and anticoagulant treatment, the patient’s symptoms were relieved and she was discharged from the hospital 49 days later.ConclusionsHeadache is the main symptom of PDPH and cerebral venous thrombosis, which are difficult to distinguish. ONSD measurement may help to estimate the intracranial pressure, and early measurement may be helpful for women with PDPH to avoid serious complications, such as CVST.

Cerebrospinal fluid–lymphatic fistula in a child with generalized lymphatic anomaly treated with targeted blood patch — a rare case report and review of the literature

Spontaneous intracranial hypotension may result in debilitating postural headaches and severe neurological symptoms due to secondary cerebellar sagging. The most common cause is the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak within the spinal canal. Although previously reported in only a few cases, also paraspinal lymphatic malformations causing vertebral bone destruction may occasionally result in CSF leak to these pathological formations. Here, we present a case of a 9-year-old girl with generalized lymphatic anomaly (GLA) presenting with severe postural headache. Radiological imaging revealed a typical feature of cerebellar sagging. Myelography localized the CSF leakage into vertebral bodies of C7 and Th1, which both were partly involved in pathological paravertebral masses of known lymphatic anomaly, and from there along the right C8 nerve root sleeve into the anomaly. As the C8-nerve root could not be ligated due to the risk of significant neurological injury, we attempted image-guided targeted percutaneous epidural placement of a blood patch directly into the foramen at the affected level. The procedure resulted in obliteration of the fistula and regression of cerebellar sagging, with significant relief of symptoms. Although it is an extremely rare coincidence, patients with paraspinal lymphatic malformations may develop intraspinal CSF leak into these pathological formations. The present case report suggests that besides a direct surgical obliteration of the fistula and sacrificing the nerve root, a targeted percutaneous epidural blood patch may be a possible alternative in the case of a functionally important nerve root.

ERASURE: early autologous blood pleurodesis for postoperative air leaks—a randomized, controlled trial comparing prophylactic autologous blood pleurodesis versus standard watch and wait treatment for postoperative air leaks following thoracoscopic anatomic lung resections

BackgroundThe prolonged air leak is probably the most common complication following lung resections. Around 10–20% of the patients who undergo a lung resection will eventually develop a prolonged air leak. The definition of a prolonged air leak varies between an air leak, which is evident after the fifth, seventh or even tenth postoperative day to every air leak that prolongs the hospital stay. However, the postoperative hospital stay following a thoracoscopic lobectomy can be as short as 2 days, making the above definitions sound outdated. The treatment of these air leaks is also very versatile. One of the broadly accepted treatment options is the autologous blood pleurodesis or “blood patch”. The purpose of this trial is to investigate the impact of a prophylactic autologous blood pleurodesis on reducing the duration of the postoperative air leak and therefore prevent the air leak from becoming prolonged.MethodsPatients undergoing an elective thoracoscopic anatomic lung resection for primary lung cancer or metastatic disease will be eligible for recruitment. Patients with an air leak of > 100 ml/min within 6 h prior to the morning round on the second postoperative day will be eligible for inclusion in the study and randomization. Patients will be randomized to either blood pleurodesis or watchful waiting. The primary endpoint is the time to drain removal measured in full days. The trial ends on the seventh postoperative day.DiscussionThe early autologous blood pleurodesis could lead to a faster cessation of the air leak and therefore to a faster removal of the drain. A faster removal of the drain would relieve the patient from all the well-known drain-associated complications (longer hospital stay, stronger postoperative pain, risk of drain-associated infection, etc.). From the economical point of view, faster drain removal would reduce the hospital costs as well as the costs associated with the care of a patient with a chest drain in an outpatient setting.Trial registrationGerman Clinical Trials Register (DRKS) DRKS00030810. 27 December 2022

Effectiveness of pleurodesis for postoperative air leaks after lung resection

BackgroundPleurodesis is often performed for air leaks; however, the ideal materials and timing of the procedure remain controversial. We investigated the efficacy of pleurodesis using different materials and timing.MethodsWe retrospectively reviewed 913 consecutive patients who underwent segmentectomy or lobectomy for non-small cell lung cancer between 2014 and 2021. Pleurodesis efficacy was assessed on the day of chest tube removal.ResultsEighty-six patients (9%) underwent pleurodesis for postoperative air leaks. Pleurodesis was performed on a median of postoperative day (POD) 5. Talc was the most frequently used material (n = 52, 60%), followed by autologous blood patches (n = 20, 23%), OK-432 (n = 12, 14%), and others (n = 2, 2%). No difference existed in the number of days from initial pleurodesis to chest tube removal among the three groups (talc, 3 days; autologous blood patch, 3 days; OK-432, 2 days; P = 0.55). No difference in patient background, except for sex, was observed between patients who underwent pleurodesis within 4 PODs and those who underwent pleurodesis on POD 5 or later. Drainage time was significantly shorter in patients who underwent pleurodesis within 4 PODs (median, 7 vs. 9 days; P = 0.004).ConclusionsThe efficacies of autologous blood patch, talc, and OK-432 would be considered comparable and early postoperative pleurodesis could shorten drainage time. Prospective studies are required.

Is trans-sacral endoscopic laser decompression truly effective? Clinical and functional assessment of a single spine center.

Herniated nucleus pulposus (HNP), without causing significant neurological deficit, is a more frequently occurring disease of the spine affecting the activities of daily living with chronic back pain and sometimes progressing to produce significant functional deficit. Trans-sacral epiduroscopic laser decompression (SELD) is being increasingly used as a treatment modality for these conditions and has been shown to give effective results. We present the clinical outcomes of the patients undergoing SELD in our institute for HNP. A retrospective study of 411 patients who underwent SELD for lumbar disc herniation was done, analyzing the clinical outcomes by measuring visual analog scale (VAS) scores for leg pain and back pain, Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) score, and Short form health survey (SF -36) scores and followed up for 6 months. A total of 195 males and 216 females underwent SELD, with a mean age of 33.2 ± 0.9 years and a mean follow-up period of 7 ± 1.6 months. VAS scores for back pain and leg pain improved significantly from 6.9 ± 0.5 and 6.6 ± 0.6 preoperatively to 1.1 ± 0.5 (P > 0.05) and 0.4 ± 0.5 (P > 0.05) at 6 months. ODI score decreased from 28.2 ± 1.7 to 9.4 ± 1.7 at 6 months from the intervention (P < 0.05). SF-36 showed significant improvement in overall categories through 6 months of follow-up. Twenty-four patients had dural punctures, and four patients needed blood patches but recovered without any complications. One patient had aggravation of the disc herniation post-procedure, and was managed by endoscopic discectomy. SELD is a safe, accurate, and effective procedure in treating symptomatic lumbar disc herniation with excellent clinical outcomes and effective pain relief with minimal damage to paraspinal muscles with an easier learning curve, reproducible results, and high safety index.

Incidence and Management of Post-dural Puncture Headache among Parturients: A Retrospective Analysis

Background: Postdural puncture headache (PDPH) is a known complication following spinal and epidural anesthesia. Study Design: This is a retrospective study to assess the incidence, risk factors, severity, and management of PDPH. Materials: The data were extracted from the medical records. All parturients who gave birth under spinal anesthesia or epidural analgesia were included. Maternal demographics, the size of the needle, the position of the parturient, and the day of onset of the headache were noted. Categorical variables were expressed using frequency and percentage and numerical variables as mean and standard deviation. One-way analysis of variance test was used for cross-comparison between groups. Results: A total of 35 patients developed PDPH. It was managed conservatively in 65.71%, with Sphenopalatine ganglion block (SPGB) in 28.57% and by epidural blood patch (EBP) in 5.72%. The mean age was 28.6 years and body mass index was 27.2. 25G spinal needle was used in 54.3% and 23G in 28.6%. At 30 minute, pain score was &lt;4 in SPGB and EBP. At 2 hours, pain score was &lt;4 in all patients. The difference in the drop in pain score was statistically significant with a P value of &lt; .002 at all time points. On cross-comparison, conservative management with SPGB and blood patch was statistically significant. Conclusion: The incidence of PDPH was 0.8%. We can continue with the 23G and 25G Whitacre needles due to the incidence of PDPH being lower. The use of SPGB and EBP is effective in management of severe PDPH.

A case report on spontaneous intracranial hypotension

A 38-year-old lady with bronchial asthma, psychiatric illness, and a suicidal attempt 6 years ago presented with persistent headache for more than 2 weeks. She was diagnosed with recurrent sinusitis and migraine and was on treatment at a local hospital and referred to a higher center for persistent headache which was orthostatic in nature. Clinically, the patient was alert, oriented, and systemic examination was unremarkable. MRI spine showed extensive extradural collection separating the anterior dural sac from the bony canal extending from C3 to D1. CT Myelogram showed cervical dural leak anteriorly at C7-D1 and bony osteophyte impinging on the dural sac – likely cause of leak. Diagnosis of Spontaneous Intracranial Hypotension was made. As no improvement was noted with trial of conservative management, we proceeded with advanced imaging-guided Epidural blood patch repair, following which the symptoms improved.

Movement Disorders in Brain Sagging Syndrome Due To Spontaneous Intracranial Hypotension: A Review.

Spontaneous intracranial hypotension (SIH), a treatable condition that stems from spinal leakage of cerebrospinal fluid, usually presents with orthostatic headache, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, and tinnitus. A subset of patients, especially those with sagging of brain structures ("brain sagging syndrome"), develop several movement abnormalities. As SIH is treatable with epidural blood patch (EBP), movement disorders neurologists should be familiar with this syndrome. The authors performed a literature search in PubMed in July 2024 using the Boolean phrase- (("Brain sagging")OR("Intracranial hypotension"))AND(((((((((("Movement disorders")OR("Involuntary movements"))OR("Tremor"))OR("Dystonia"))OR("Chorea"))OR("Ballismus"))OR("Myorhythmia"))OR ("Tic"))OR("Ataxia"))OR("Parkinsonism")). We tabulated 21 case reports/series that highlighted the presence of movement disorders. The most reported phenomenology is gait unsteadiness. While it usually emerges in the background of the classic SIH symptoms, rarely, patients may present with isolated gait dysfunction. Tremor is the second most reported phenomenology with postural and kinetic tremor being the common subtypes. Holmes tremor has also been reported in SIH. Other reported phenomenologies are parkinsonism, chorea, and dystonia. One study reported a unique phenomenology i.e. compulsive repetitive flexion and breath holding in 35.3% of the patients. In majority of the patients, EBP resulted in substantial clinical and radiological improvement. Brain sagging syndrome due to SIH may present with a wide range of movement disorders. Mechanical distortion of the posterior fossa and subcortical structures result in the emergence of such movement abnormality. SIH adds to the list of conditions that result in "treatable movement disorders." Therefore, movement disorders neurologists should be versed with the diagnosis and clinical features of this condition.

Acute on Chronic SDH as a complication of untreated spontaneous CSF leak following air travel

Introduction: Spontaneous cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leaks are a complex disorder with a wide range of clinical and radiological features. These leaks occur without any apparent cause and are often associated with disorders of the connective tissue matrix, pre-existing dural weakness, and meningeal diverticula. Case Report: A 41-year-old male presented with new onset persistent orthostatic headaches that significantly affected his daily activities. Upon examination, his neurological functions appeared normal. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of his brain and cervical spine revealed a CSF leak at the C1/2 junction. Initially, conservative management provided partial relief, but the patient&amp;apos;s symptoms worsened after air travel. Repeat MRI showed bilateral subdural hematomas (SDH) and extension of the CSF leak into the cervical and thoracic levels. Computed Tomographic myelogram (CT myelogram) confirmed the CSF leak at the left posterolateral dural sac at the C5/T1 level. To address the CSF leak, an autologous epidural blood patch (EBP) was performed via the T9-10 level, followed by the evacuation of the bilateral SDH. However, the patient experienced complications with cerebral salt wasting postoperatively. Fortunately, his symptoms disappeared, and subsequent CT scans showed no further CSF leak. Discussion: Subdural hematoma (SDH) is a common complication of spontaneous intracranial hypotension (SIH), which can be treated with an epidural blood patch (EBP). Surgical intervention is usually reserved for cases where non-surgical management fails. Surgical repair is generally safe and effective in providing relief for patients with identified structural abnormalities or focal CSF leaks. Unfortunately, spontaneous CSF leaks often go underdiagnosed due to their varied clinical and radiographic presentations. As seen in this case, the presence and worsening of signs and symptoms of a CSF leak indicate the need for further evaluation and management. Conclusion: Spontaneous CSF leaks are a complex disorder with diverse clinical and radiographic manifestations. Early recognition and appropriate management, whether conservative or surgical, are crucial in providing relief and preventing complications such as subdural hematomas. Healthcare professionals should maintain a high index of suspicion for CSF leaks in patients presenting with persistent orthostatic headaches or other related symptoms.

Pleuro-cutaneous fistula complicating chest drain insertion for melioidosis empyema

Melioidosis is a rare cause of empyema. Pleurocutaneous fistula is a pathologic communication between the pleural space and the subcutaneous tissues. Here we’re presenting a case of a Pleurocutaneous fistula complicating chest drain insertion for melioidosis empyema. Fifty-year-old fisherman from Mannar Sri Lanka presented with predominant thoracic empyema. Pleural fluid culture isolated the Burkholderia pseudomallei. A chest drain was inserted for the empyema. Subcutaneous emphysema was noted following the removal of the chest drain and it worsened over time. CECT Chest revealed the right Pleuro-cutaneous fistula, which was complicated by hemopneumothorax and trapped lung. Surgical management was refused by the patient for fistula correction and trapped lung. The fistula was successfully closed with an autologous blood patch. Melioidosis can present with predominant thoracic empyema. Pleuro-cutaneous fistula can complicate the chest drain insertion in the patient with melioidosis empyema which can be treated with an Ultrasound-guided autologous blood patch.

Intranasal Lidocaine Administration via Mucosal Atomization Device: A Simple and Successful Treatment for Postdural Puncture Headache in Obstetric Patients.

(1) Background: Postdural puncture headache (PDPH) remains a serious complication in obstetric patients. While the epidural blood patch represents the current gold standard in therapy, a growing number of alternative measures are thought to be beneficial for clinical management. The purpose of this study was to retrospectively analyze the efficacy of intranasal lidocaine administration to treat PDPH in obstetrics at our university hospital; (2) Methods: A retrospective analysis of the medical records of patients with PDPH has been performed focusing on the techniques of administration, dosing, treatment duration, impact on pain intensity as well as side effects of intranasal lidocaine; (3) Results: During the study period, 5610 obstetric patients received neuraxial anesthesia, of whom 43 (0.77%) developed PDPH. About one third of the patients with PDPH after spinal anesthesia (n = 8), epidural anesthesia (n = 5) or both (n = 2) were treated with intranasal lidocaine. Lidocaine was administered either via gauze compresses (GC, n = 4), a mucosal atomization device (MAD, n = 8) or with a second-line mucosal atomization device due to low gauze compress efficacy (n = 3). All patients treated with lidocaine refused the epidural blood patch. Nebulization of lidocaine resulted in a significant reduction in pain intensity after the first dose (p = 0.008). No relevant side effects developed except sporadic temporal pharyngeal numbness. The utilization of the mucosal atomization device averted the necessity for an epidural blood patch, whether employed as the primary or secondary approach; (4) Conclusions: Our data imply that the mucosal atomization device enhances the efficacy of intranasal lidocaine administration in obstetric patients suffering from PDPH.

Postoperative CSF Leak: Blood Patch-A New Avenue.

Introduction Cerebrospinal fluid leak (CSF) after a neurosurgical procedure is a known complication that may result in bad outcomes (1). The incidence of CSF leak varies based on the site involved; it ranges from 4 to 32% for transsphenoidal to posterior fossa procedures. The costs involved in treating postoperative CSF leaks increases exponentially that becomes a barrier in continuing optimum treatment. There are many studies that compare the different treatment modalities and even use of sealing agents but none give an algorithm of management. Our study aims at known technique that can help to treat these kinds of low-pressure CSF leaks. Materials and Methods This was a prospective study done over a period of 5 years from January 2014 to January 2019. All patients who underwent procedures in which durotomy was done were included in the study. Results A total of six patients were enrolled for the study. The duration of the study spanned 5 years from January 2014 to January 2019. All the patients after taking informed consent underwent the necessary investigations and a blood patch was done. Five of the patients the CSF stopped but in one patient it persisted. This patient again underwent investigation and under image guidance another blood patch was put after which the CSF leak stopped. Conclusion Blood patch under imaging guidance is a safe and simple technique. The success rates of cessation of CSF leaks are good. Also, it is a cost-effective method using an autograft (patient's blood).

Hidden risk of gadolinium-based contrast agents during interventional pain medicine procedures: a retrospective chart review

IntroductionEpidural steroid injections and epidural blood patches commonly involve the injection of a small amount of radiocontrast media under fluoroscopy to properly identify the target tissue or anatomic space and...

Incidental epidural fluid collection – differential approach considerations

When patient care requires spinal/epidural needle re-entry at the same level as a recent spinal/epidural procedure, clear fluid may appear at the needle hub. This fluid has a differential: it may be iatrogenic, cerebrospinal fluid that leaked following a prior dural puncture, or cerebrospinal fluid freshly drawn from the spinal column. To date, there is no clear guideline on how to navigate this situation. In this brief case series, we present two distinct clinical scenarios that require properly identifying the source and nature of this fluid. We also highlight the lack of a standardized approach to differentiating clear fluid at the spinal/epidural needle hub, discuss our thoughts on how this can be rectified and what point-of-care tools may be useful.&#x0D; Key words: Case Report; Epidural Anesthesia; Epidural Blood Patch; Point-Of-Care Testing; Spinal Anesthesia&#x0D; Citation: Khan E, Rozenfeld L, Nawaz S, Khamash O, Girshin S, Woodruff B, Mendonca R. Incidental epidural fluid collection – differential approach considerations. Anaesth. pain intensive care 2023;27(5):619−621; DOI: 10.35975/apic.v27i5.2321&#x0D; Received: May 23, 2023; Reviewed: June 27, 2023; Accepted: August 10, 2023

Recurrence of Post-dural Puncture Headache After a Successful Blood Patch

Recurrence of Post-dural Puncture Headache After a Successful Blood Patch

Spontaneous Intracranial Hypotension Presenting as Progressive Gait Impairment

Orthostatic headache is a hallmark symptom of spontaneous intracranial hypotension (SIH). However, SIH can manifest without headache, which can lead to a significant delay in treatment initiation. We hereby report a 70-year-old male with progressive gait disturbance and superficial siderosis. Magnetic resonance myelography showed an extensive extradural cerebrospinal fluid collection in the cervicothoracic spine. After a series of targeted epidural blood patch, the patient’s symptoms significantly improved. SIH should be considered as a potential cause of otherwise unexplained superficial siderosis to prompt an early diagnosis and treatment.

Abstract 284: Renal Contrast Excretion After Myelography: A Valuable Tool in The Diagnosis of Cerebrospinal‐Venous Fistulae

Introduction Cerebrospinal‐venous fistulae (CSF‐VFs) represent a pathologic, low‐flow direct connection between the intrathecal space, usually at the level of a diverticular dilation of a nerve root sleeve, and the thoracolumbar venous system. They can cause CSF hypovolemia resulting in an often‐debilitating intracranial hypotension syndrome. Lateral decubitus CT or DSA myelography (CTM, DSM) are the gold‐standard modalities for diagnosing these entities. Their high spatial and temporal resolution allows visualization of the abnormal connection between the two spaces. Yet, the small size and low flow make CSF‐VFs radiographically subtle, and may not be consistently visualized even after a correctly‐performed CTM/DSM, requiring repeated invasive procedures to definitively establish or exclude their presence. Opacification of the renal excretory system 30‐60 minutes after lateral decubitus myelograms is thought to be a highly sensitive and specific indirect sign of the presence of a CSF‐VF 1,2, as this amount of time is considered insufficient to allow arachnoid reabsorption of contrast. Renal pelvises hyperdensity or its absence after a negative decubitus CTM/DSM can prompt further myelographic investigation or definitively rule out the presence of a CSF‐VF on the side of the examination, respectively. Methods We present three patients with severely symptomatic CSF‐VFs treated at our hospital between 2021 and 2023. All patients were females (range: 50‐60 years old). All three patients underwent bilateral diagnostic lateral decubitus DSM/CTM. Exams were performed at least 72 hours apart in order to allow complete clearance of intrathecal contrast. After each myelographic acquisition, patients remained in the lateral decubitus position until abdominal CT imaging was performed at 30 and 45 minutes to detect the presence of contrast in the renal collecting system. Results Patients 1 and 2, had a CSF‐VF between nerve root dural diverticula and the azygos system that was directly visualized on lateral decubitus CTM (patient 1: right T10‐T11, patient 2: left T8‐T9). Contrast was detectable in the renal pelvises after myelography was performed on the affected side, and not detectable after the contralateral investigation. One fistula was treated via CT‐guided targeted blood patch and fibrin glue injection and the other via endovascular Onyx embolization of the tributary Intercostal veins. Patient 3 had an extremely slow flow CSF‐VF at the right T11‐12 level that was identified only after 5 right‐sided decubitus myelograms with both modalities. The repeated exams were based on the presence of contrast in the renal pelvises after each right‐sided procedure and on the absence of renal opacification after the left‐sided myelograms. Eventually, a CSF‐VF was identified. Successful Onyx embolization of the foraminal veins of the R T11‐12 levels was performed. All three patients had complete resolution of symptoms. Conclusion Contrast presence in the renal excretory system after a lateral decubitus CTM/DSM is a potentially highly sensitive and specific indirect diagnostic sign that can establish or exclude the presence of a CSF‐VF on the examined side. It could be particularly helpful when the fistula is not initially detected, as it can prompt aggressive continuation of the myelographic work‐up. Similarly, it can exclude its presence on one side, sparing the patient invasive and low yield diagnostic procedures.

Spontaneous Thoracic Dural Tear Presenting With Postural Headache: A Case Report

BACKGROUND: Incidental dural tear (durotomy) is a known complication of many forms of spinal instrumentation. The majority of durotomy cases are due to a known traumatic force, such as an intentional durotomy during neuraxial anesthesia, or an unintentional tear during lumbar decompression surgery. However, spontaneous dural tears have occasionally been reported. CASE REPORT: We report a case of a 16-year-old woman with postural headaches who was found to have a spontaneous thoracic dural tear on magnetic resonance imaging. She underwent a successful fluoroscopic-guided epidural blood patch with resolution of symptoms. CONCLUSION: This case highlights the importance of considering spontaneous dural tears as a possible cause of postural headaches. KEY WORDS: Spontaneous dural tear, traumatic dural tear, idiopathic dural tear, durotomy, post-dural postural headache, epidural blood patch, headache, CSF leak, case report

Targeted Epidural Blood Patch Injection Through a Mini-Open Approach for Treatment of Spontaneous Intracranial Hypotension.

Spontaneous intracranial hypotension is recognized as a cause for refractory headache. Treatment can range from blind blood patch injection to microsurgical repair of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak. The objective of the study was to investigate the safety and efficacy of the targeted blood patch injection (TBPI) technique through a mini-open approach in treatment of refractory intracranial hypotension. We retrospectively reviewed cases of 20 patients who were treated for spontaneous intracranial hypotension at our institute between 2011 and 2022. Head and spine MRI and whole-spine myelography were performed in an attempt to localize the CSF leak. All patients underwent implantation of two epidural drains above and beneath the index level through a minimally invasive interlaminar microsurgical approach under general anesthesia. Then, blood patch was injected under clinical surveillance. Treatment success and surgical complications were evaluated postoperatively and at follow-up. Patients presented with orthostatic headache, vertigo, sensory deficits, and hypacusis (95%, 15%, 15%, and 10%, respectively). Subdural effusions were present in 65% of the cases. A CSF leak was identified in all patients. The exact site of the CSF leak could be identified in 80% of cases. TBPI was performed with an average blood amount of 37.5 mL. A significant improvement of symptoms was reported in 90% of the cases. A total of 15% of the patients showed recurrent symptoms and underwent a second TBPI, resulting in symptom relief. No therapy-related complications were reported. TBPI is a safe and efficient treatment for spontaneous intracranial hypotension. It is performed in a minimally invasive procedure and can be repeated, if necessary, with a very low-risk profile.