Post Dural Puncture Headache After Accidental Dural Puncture

Epidural anesthesia is associated with potential risks and complications, post dural puncture headache (PDPH) one of the most recognized with epidural or spinal anesthesia. Accidental dural punctures occur with approximately 1.5% of all epidural attempts. Studies have suggested that the use of an intrathecal catheter reduces the incidence of PDPH. A systematic review of the existing literature will identify if there is reliable evidence to support this theory. A secondary outcome, headache severity, will also be explored via incidence rates of epidural blood patch, as this intervention is performed as a treatment for the most severe headaches.