Reinsertion of the stylet does not affect incidence of post dural puncture headaches (PDPH) after spinal anesthesia.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of reinsertion of the stylet after a spinal anesthesia procedure on the Post Dural Puncture Headache (PDPH).

METHODS

We have enrolled into this study 630 patients who were undergoing elective operations with spinal anesthesia and randomized them to Group A (stylet replacement before needle removal) and Group B (needle removal without stylet replacement). These patients were observed for the duration of 24 hours in the hospital and they were checked for PDPH on the 3rd and the 7th day of the study.

RESULTS

Overall, the PDPH incidence was at 10.8% (68 patients). Thirty-three of these patients (10.5%) who were in Group A (stylet replacement before needle removal) and the other 35 patients (11.1%) who were in Group B (needle removal without stylet replacement) experienced PDPH. There was no significant difference between the two groups with respect to the PDPH.

CONCLUSIONS

In contrary to the diagnostic lumbar puncture, reinsertion of the stylet after spinal anesthesia with 25-gauge Quincke needles does not reduce the incidence of PDPH.