Intravenous administration of caffeine sodium benzoate for postdural puncture headache

Background and Objectives. In this study, we evaluated the efficacy and saf ety of prophylactic administration of intravenous caffeine sodium benzoate for postdural puncture headaches (PDPH) on patients administered spinal ane sthesia. Methods. Sixty ASA I and Il patients undergoing lower abdominal or lower extremity surgery were included in this study. Patients were randomi zed by double-blind, placebocontrolled design to receive either 1,000 mt no rmal saline with 500 mg caffeine sodium benzoate (group C) or 1,000 mt norm al saline (group S) during the first 90 minutes after spinal anesthesia adm inistration. The patient's electrocardiogram, noninvasive blood pressure, a nd pulse oximetry were monitored and recorded. The patients' headaches were evaluated by using the visual analog scale (VAS). At the end of the fifth day, the severity of the headache was classified as follows: no headache = 0; mild headache = 1; moderate headache = 2; severe headache = 3. Analgesic requirements were recorded for 5 days. Results. Visual analog scale scores were significantly lower in group C than in group S. The incidence of mode rate and severe headache was significantly higher in group S (11 patients) when compared with group C (3 patients). Analgesic demand was si,significan tly lower in group C than in group S for 4 days. Conclusion. Intravenous ca ffeine sodium benzoate administration during spinal anesthesia is a simple and safe way to minimize PDPH.