Effect of Intravenous Meperidine in Controlling Post Dural Puncture Headache

Background: Spinal anesthesia is usually applied for urologic surgeries. Postdural puncture headache (PDPH) is among common complications which has not been reduced during last years despite all advances in the field of medicine. Therapeutic effects of conventional therapy (paracetamol and novaphen) are being compared to intravenous meperidine in patients suffering from PDPH. Methods: One hundred patients, with PDPH following spinal anesthesia for transurethral lithotripsy were enrolled and randomly allocated to receive conventional (group C) or intravenous meperidine (group P) (20 mg every 5min up to 120mg or when the pain was decreased to less than 3/10). Results: Time interval to reach acceptable headache was 3 hours in group P compared to 8 hours in group C. Group P patients received statistically significantly less amount of paracetamol and novaphen, and experienced fewer episodes of severe headaches in 48 hours after the start of treatment, compared to group C. Conclusion: Short term intravenous meperidine compared to conventional therapy resulted in more rapid and effective outcomes.