Occasionally, some women experience a drop in blood pressure with an epidural. This is remedied by giving plenty of fluids directly into a vein (intravenous drip). A headache may develop after an epidural, caused when the needle accidentally pierces the dura, the membrane that holds the fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord (cerebro-spinal fluid or CSF). If too much fluid leaks through this hole, the pressure in the rest of the fluid is reduced. Sitting up causes the pressure around your brain to be reduced further, giving headache symptoms that typically occur between one day and one week afterwards.
The hole in the dura will usually mend itself over a number of days or weeks. Severe headaches may be treated by an epidural 'blood patch ' which is a similar procedure to the epidural itself, but the anaesthetist injects some of your blood to form a clot to block the hole in the dura. A blood patch is normally effective within 24 hours, during which time it is recommended that you lie down for as long as possible and avoid any heavy lifting.
© Crown Copyright
(www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk 08/12/2006) |
