We report two cases of meningitis which developed after combined spina
l-extradural procedures for obstetric analgesia. The first case was th
ought to be caused by aseptic or chemical meningitis and the second wa
s a case of bacterial meningitis in a patient who also received an ext
radural blood patch. It is important that meningitis is considered as
a differential diagnosis in patients who present with headache after s
pinal anaesthesia and that antibiotic therapy is selected to cover unu
sual organisms.