As per the recent analysis, sphenopalatine ganglion block (SPGB) was found to be significantly effective than epidural blood patch (EBP) in reducing headache in patients with post-dural puncture headache.

Postdural puncture headache (PDPH) is a critical debilitating problem related to unintended dural puncture. Generally, the treatment of a devastating headache is done by EBP, but with certain serious complications like paralysis and meningitis. Therefore, Shaul Cohen and colleagues conducted a retrospective chart review to evaluate the efficacy of SPGB to manage PDPH in comparison to EBP.

The patients taken for analysis were the obstetric patients who were detected with PDPH (Jan 1997 to July 2014) due to unintended dural puncture done with 17-gauge Tuohy needle for labour epidural. The EBP group involved 39 and SPGB group included 41 patients. Before initiating the treatment, headache severity, demographic features and headache-related symptoms were collected. Both groups were compared for new treatment complications, residual headache and recovery from related symptoms at 30 minutes, one h, 24 h, 48 h and one week after the treatment.

In the SPGB group, more patients exhibited considerable relief from PDPH and related symptoms at 30 and one h post-treatment as compared to EBP group (P < 0.01). The complications after the treatment were noticed only in EBP group, which cleared up in 48 hours.