The Effect of Intravenous Fluid Therapy before Spinal Block on Postdural Headache in Women Undergoing Elective Cesarean Section: A Clinical Trial

Postdural puncture headache is a complication of spinal block in postpartum period, which increases the cost of hospitalization and limits maternal activity. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the role of intravenous fluid therapy before the onset of spinal block in the incidence, severity and duration of postdural puncture headache.

The present study was a clinical trial. The statistical population consisted of two groups of 75 women candidates for elective cesarean section in Rafsanjan in 2018. In the pre-partum room, 500 CC ringer serum was infused into the intervention group and the control group did not receive any serum. The two groups were compared for post dura puncture headache during 7 days via independent two-sample t-test and chi-square test.

The results showed that intravenous fluid therapy before entering the operating room in women undergoing elective cesarean section can significantly reduce the incidence of postdural headache in the same technical conditions ( 2 persons equal 2.7% of intervention group versus 12 persons equal 16% of control group) (p=0.005). Although, there were no significant differences between the two groups in some indices (p>0.05), indices such as headache severity, frequency of acetaminophen need and number of its use in the intervention group were less than the control group.

The results showed that intravenous serum therapy prior to spinal anesthesia in cesarean section for at least eight hours fasting could significantly reduce the incidence of postdural headache in subsequent days. So, this simple and accessible action can be helpful.