Prophylactic blood patch does not prevent post lumbar puncture headache

Of 86 patients in whom accidental puncture of the dura occurred during insertion of a needle for induction of epidural analgeisa for labour and delivery, 11 received a prophylactic blood patch at the completion of delivery. Of the 75 patients with no prophylactic blood patch, 59 per cent developed post-lumbar-puncture headache, while 54 per cent of those who had a prophylactic blood patch developed headache. The prophylactic blood patch appears to have no value in preventing post-lumbar-puncture headache in this small group of patients.