Table 1.
Demographics and clinical characteristics, presented as medians (ranges) or numbers (percents). Abbreviations: GC gauze compresses, MAD mucosal atomization device, NRS numeric rating scale, PDPH postdural puncture headache.
| Variables | Total (n = 15 Patients) |
GC Group (n = 4 Patients) |
Second-Line MAD Group (n = 3 Patients) |
MAD Group (n = 8 Patients) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age (years) | 32 (24 to 40) | 30 (26 to 40) | 34 (24 to 36) | 33 (29 to 40) |
| Body weight (kg) | 71 (57 to 179) | 80 (58 to 179) | 80 (60 to 140) | 71 (57 to 95) |
| Height (cm) | 163 (158 to 182) | 161 (158 to 170) | 160 (160 to 160) | 170 (150 to 182) |
| Body mass index (kg/m2) | 27 (21 to 70) | 29 (22 to 70) | 31 (23 to 55) | 25 (21 to 32) |
| Risk factors for PDPH | ||||
| Age 20–30 years | 6 (40%) | 3 (75%) | 1 (33%) | 2 (25%) |
| Body mass index < 20 kg/m2 | 0 (0.0%) | 0 (0.0%) | 0 (0.0%) | 0 (0.0%) |
| History of headache/migraine | 3 (20%) | 1 (25%) | 1 (33%) | 1 (13%) |
| History of PDPH | 3 (20%) | 1 (25%) | 1 (33%) | 1 (13%) |
| Neuraxial technique | ||||
| Spinal anesthesia | 8 (53%) | 2 (50%) | 2 (67%) | 4 (50%) |
| Epidural anesthesia | 5 (33%) | 0 (0.0%) | 1 (33%) | 4 (50%) |
| Both a | 2 (13%) | 2 (50%) | 0 (0.0%) | 0 (0.0%) |
| Time from puncture to PDPH onset (days) | 1.0 (0.0 to 3.0) | 1.5 (1.0 to 3.0) | 1.0 (1.0 to 1.0) | 1.5 (0.0 to 3.0) |
| Pain intensity at time of PDPH diagnosis (NRS score) | 7 (2 to 10) | 7 (5 to 10) | 6 (3 to 10) | 8.5 (2 to 10) |
| PDPH-associated symptoms | ||||
| Neck stiffness/pain | 12 (80%) | 4 (100%) | 2 (67%) | 6 (75%) |
| Tinnitus/hearing loss | 3 (20%) | 0 (0.0%) | 0 (0.0%) | 3 (38%) |
| Photophobia | 1 (6.7%) | 0 (0.0%) | 0 (0.0%) | 1 (13%) |
| Nausea/vomiting | 4 (27%) | 2 (50%) | 0 (0.0%) | 2 (25%) |
| Conservative treatment | ||||
| Oral/IV fluid intake | 9 (60%) | 3 (75%) | 1 (33%) | 5 (63%) |
| Caffeine | 12 (80%) | 3 (75%) | 3 (100%) | 6 (75%) |
| Ibuprofen | 12 (80%) | 3 (75%) | 3 (100%) | 6 (75%) |
| Paracetamol | 8 (53%) | 2 (50%) | 1 (33%) | 5 (63%) |
a Two patients received spinal anesthesia for secondary cesarean section after failed epidural attempts or after epidural anesthesia with insufficient pain relief.