[Post dural puncture headache (PDPH) which occurred after the removal of an epidural catheter]

A 57-year-old man received gastrectomy under general anesthesia combined with epidural anesthesia. He showed no signs of dural puncture and catheter migration into the subarachnoid space. Cardiovascular status was stable with epidural injection of lidocaine, morphine during the operation. Although epidural morphine and buprenorphine infusions were continued for 1 to 6 postoperative days, respiratory depression and other side effects were not observed. However, severe headache in the upright position occurred after stopping these infusions and the removal of the catheter on the 7th postoperative day. The headache was thought to be caused by unintentional dural puncture. PDPH persisted over a period of 30 days and was treated with an epidural blood patch and stellate ganglion blocks since the other conservative therapy had been ineffective. We consider that administration of continuous epidural opioids for postoperative analgesia helped to prevent PDPH until the 7th postoperative day. We also conclude that prolonged PDPH after using a thick needle like a Touhy needle should be treated by an epidural blood patch.