Epidural Blood Patch

Epidural Blood Patch

An epidural blood patch is the injection of blood that was drawn from your arm, into your back, into the epidural space outside of the spinal canal. An epidural blood patch is performed when a person is thought to be suffering from a spinal headache, which usually has resulted from a tear or puncture (intentional or unintentional) of the dura (tissue layer) lining the spinal canal. An intentional hole is made when performing a spinal anesthetic or a spinal tap. It is thought that the leaking of spinal fluid through the hole results in the severe headache. It is not known why or how an epidural blood patch works, just that it does.

You will be placed in the sitting position or on your side. Your low back will be cleansed with an antiseptic and then numbed. The doctor will place the needle into your back, into the epidural space. Then, some blood will be drawn from your arm and immediately injected into your back through the previously placed needle. During the injection, you will probably feel pressure in your back or in your head, but this will last only for a minute or two. You will need to lie flat, or near flat for about an hour to allow the blood to clot and "patch" the hole in your dura. The procedure will take up to 30 minutes.

You will rest while the nurse monitors your blood pressure and pulse. You may notice immediate relief of your headache. The nurse will review your discharge instructions with you before you go home in an hour or so. You will be instructed to go home and lay down for several more hours, and not to perform heavy lifting or extreme bending for two days.

Tip:

Usually, spinal headache occurs after a spinal tap that was done for diagnostic purposes. If this is going to be done by your neurologist, please let him know that we could coordinate your care with him for possible treatment of post spinal headache with an epidural blood patch.