[Postpuncture headache and blood patch].

Anesthetists performing spinal and epidural anaesthesia will inevitably be confronted with the problem of postspinal headache. Exact knowledge as to cause, diagnosis, and treatment of this troublesome complication are mandatory. The most important method of treatment, the epidural blood patch, belongs to the armamentarium of every anesthetist. The present review is based on the most important findings in the literature and adds some important experiences from the author's institution.