Bilateral Greater Occipital Nerve Block; Distal Versus Proximal Approach for Postdural Puncture Headache: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

BACKGROUND

One of the common neuraxial anesthesia complications is postdural puncture headache (PDPH). Greater occipital nerve block (GONB) is a simple and safe maneuver with a faster onset than other treatment modalities.

OBJECTIVES

Our work aims to compare the pain-relieving effect between distal and proximal ultrasound (US)-guided bilateral GONBs for PDPH.

STUDY

DESIGN

A randomized, double-blinded study.

SETTING

Aswan University Hospital, Egypt.

METHODS

The study included 50 patients of both genders, aged 20 to 60 years, who had PDPH with a sitting Numeric Rating Scale (NRS-11) >= 4. Patients were randomized into 2 equal groups. Group D received a US-guided distal bilateral GONB (at the superior nuchal line level). Group P received a US-guided proximal bilateral GONB (at the second cervical vertebra level). Three milliliters of isobaric bupivacaine 0.5% and 4 mg dexamethasone were injected in both blocks.

RESULTS

There was a significant decrease in lying down and sitting NRS-11 at 10 minutes, 6, 12, 24, 36, and 48 hours after the intervention compared to before the intervention in both groups. Only sitting NRS-11 was significantly lower in group P than group D in all measurements after the intervention. Success rate (sitting NRS-11 < 4) at 24 hours was 60% in group D and 84% in group P, with an insignificant difference. The total 48-hour paracetamol and tramadol consumption was significantly lower in group P than in group D (P = 0.038 and 0.036, respectively). Transient cervicalgia occurred in 8% of each group.

LIMITATIONS: The small number of cases to prove the secondary outcomes and the absence of a control group.

CONCLUSIONS

US-guided proximal and distal GONBs were minimally invasive, simple, and effective ways to treat PDPH, with the superiority of proximal GONB in alleviating PDPH.

KEY WORDS: Postdural puncture headache, distal, proximal, greater occipital nerve, block, ultrasound, pain-relieving, neuraxial anesthesia.