[Post-lumbar puncture headache in children. Treatment with epidural autologous blood (blood patch)]

Post-lumbar puncture headaches (PLPH) are uncommon in children, but when they occur treatment is challenging. PLPH in adults have been successfully treated by the use of the epidural blood patch. This treatment has been very rarely reported in children.

A 13-year-old boy, weighing 64 kg, had a lumbar puncture as part of a work-up for a 4-day history of right hemithorax pain. This pain was associated with hypoesthesia; there were no cutaneous vesicles. Neurological examination revealed decreased strength in the left upper extremity. A magnetic resonance imaging of the cervicodorsolumbar spine was normal. Three hours after lumbar puncture, the patient complained of bifrontal headaches. The headaches worsened in the upright position and they prevented the boy from ambulating. Treatment with acetaminophen was unsatisfactory. On day 9, the initial symptoms that had motivated the lumbar puncture had disappeared, but PLPH persisted. Therefore, an epidural blood patch was performed (EBP). A 18-gauge 1 Perican needle was introduced into the peridural space at the L3-L4 interspace using the loss of resistance technique. Fifteen milliliters of blood were drawn in a sterile fashion and without anticoagulant from the patient's forearm and injected slowly through the epidural needle. The patient experienced immediate, complete, and definite relief of his PLPH. Follow-up did not show any complication.

EBP can be useful in the treatment of PLPH lasting more than 5 days in children.