Auditory function following post-dural puncture headache treated with epidural blood patch. A long-term follow-up

Area of Science:

• Obstetrics and Gynecology
• Audiology
• Anesthesiology

Background:

• Epidural analgesia is a common labor pain management technique.
• Accidental dural puncture (ADP) can lead to debilitating headaches and transient hearing loss.
• The long-term effects of ADP treated with epidural blood patch (EBP) on auditory function are not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate auditory function in women years after accidental dural puncture (ADP) treated with epidural blood patch (EBP).
• To assess potential long-term hearing impairments following ADP and EBP during labor.

Main Methods:

• Sixty women who received EBP after ADP during labor were evaluated for auditory function.
• Tests included otoscopic examination, tympanometry, pure tone audiometry, and otoacoustic emissions.
• The Speech, Spatial and Qualities (SSQ) of hearing questionnaire assessed perceived hearing impairment, compared to a control group.

Main Results:

• Pure tone audiometry showed a small but significant hearing difference (less than 5 dB) in the ADP group compared to controls.
• The ability to hear speech in noise, measured by the SSQ, was significantly reduced in the ADP group.
• No significant differences were found in tympanometry or otoacoustic emissions between groups.

Conclusions:

• A minor, clinically insignificant hearing loss may persist several years after accidental dural puncture treated with an epidural blood patch.
• Specific deficits were noted in pure tone audiometry and speech-in-noise perception.
• Further research may clarify the clinical implications of these long-term auditory changes.