Patient selection: Adults >= 18 years
Technique used:
(1) The needle gauge were 22, 25 or 26.
(2) While the type of needle was not stated, it appeared to be the Quincke type since the bevel orientation was relevant.
Parameters correlated with headache in multivariate analysis:
(1) age of the patient in years
(2) orientation of the bevel relative to the longitudinal dural fibers
probability of post-dural puncture headache if bevel perpendicular to longitudinal dural fibers =
= 1 / (1 + EXP(X))
with X =
= (0.043 * (age in years)) + 0.224
probability of post-dural puncture headache if bevel parallel to longitudinal dural fibers =
= 1 / (1 + EXP(Y))
with Y =
= (0.032 * (age in years)) + 1.303
probability of post-dural puncture headache based on age alone =
= 1 / (1 + EXP(Z))
with Z =
= (0.039 * (age in years)) + 0.633
where:
• The curve for age-alone was midway between the previous 2 equations.
• The risk would be reduced if a nontraumatic needle was used.
Limitation:
• The severity of the headache did not seem to be graded.
