Postpartum headache is a common emergency department (ED) complaint in women following delivery. Though the majority of these headaches are due to primary headache disorders or postdural puncture headaches, life-threatening complications can occur. Both postpartum pre-eclampsia can occur as well as hypercoagulable and vascular disorders including stroke, venous sinus thrombosis (VST), and reversible cerebral vasoconstrictive syndrome. With the increasing use of epidurals for intrapartum analgesia, rare, dangerous complications can present in a similar fashion. The authors present a persistent postpartum headache secondary to bilateral subdural hematomas (SDH) from epidural induced intracranial hypotension.
Keywords: post dural puncture headache; post-partum headache; subdural hematoma.
Copyright © 2020, Bridwell et al.