• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.46-50
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• 2010

Spontaneous intracranial hypotension (SIH) is considered to be a very rare disorder. It is characterized by an orthostatic headache that is aggravated with the patient in the upright position and it is relieved by the patient assuming the supine position. SIH is caused by a spontaneous spinal cerebrospinal fluid leakage without the patient having undergone trauma, surgery or dural puncture or having any other significant medical history. An autologous epidural blood patch (EBP) is effective in relieving SIH. We report here on a case of SIH with cerebrospinal fluid leakage at the upper cervical vertebral level and the middle thoracic vertebral level. The points of leakage were identified by radionuclide cisternography, and this patient was successfully managed by injecting an EBP at each level of leakage.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.157-161
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• 1999

We report a patient with spontaneous intracranial hypotension. In addition to the cardinal feature of a postural headache and a low CSF pressure, the patient also had subdural hematoma demonstrated by brain MRI. Radionuclide cisternography revealed a CSF leakage in the intracranium. CSF leakage from spinal meningeal defects may be the most common cause of this syndrome. The headache is a consequence of the low CSF pressure producing displacement of pain-sensitive structures. Methods of treatment are identical to those for post-dural puncture headaches. We experienced a patient with spontaneous intracranial hypotension developed in the intracranium who was successfully managed with a cervical blood patch.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.60-63
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• 2005

This report describes the successful treatment of spontaneous intracranial hypotension (SIH) with multiple cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leaks using 10 applications of epidural blood patches (EBP). A forty year old female who suffered with a postural headache was diagnosed as having SIH. On the cisternography, multiple CSF leaks were noted at the thoracic and lumbar area. Her headache was not improved with conservative treatments such as bed rest, hydration and NSAIDS. So, she underwent treatment with EBPs. After 10 applications of site-directed EBPs, her headache was resolved gradually and completely without any complications.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.240-248
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• 2000

Objective : Spontaneous intracranial hypotension is a rarely reported syndrome of spontaneous postural headache associated with low CSF pressure and has rarely been demonstrated radiographically or surgically. But recently, it is being recognized with increasing frequency. The purpose of this study was to characterize clinical and imaging features, etiologic factors, and outcome in the spontaneous intracranial hypotension. Patients and Methods : We reviewed our experience with documented cases of spontaneous intracranial hypotension in 5 consecutive patients with orthostatic headaches from April 1998 to April 1999. Results : The mean age was 41 years(from 35 to 49 years). All patients had postural headaches, which were completely alleviated by recumbency position. Nausea, neck pain, horizontal diplopia, photophobia, and blurred vision were noted in some of the patients. Brain MRI showed diffuse pachymeningeal gadolinium enhancement, subdural collections of fluid, and descent of the brain. The opening pressure from lumbar puncture was $4cmH_2O$ or less in three of five patients whereas the opening pressure was within normal range in two patients. All patients underwent radioisotope cisternography and computerized tomographic myelography. On radioisotope cisternography, CSF leakage was suspected at the level of cervical area(1 patient), upper thoracic area(2 patients), mid-thoracic area(1 patient). Computed tomography myelography revealed extraarachnoid accumulation of contrast media(compatible finding with CSF leakage) at the level of cervical or thoracic area. In all patients, the symptoms resolved in response to supportive measures or epidural blood patch(1 patient). Conclusion : Spontaneous spinal CSF leakage is increasingly recognized as a cause of spinal postural headache. Most CSF leaks are located at the cervicothoracic junction or in the thoracic spine and can be demonstrated by variable diagnostic method. The condition is usually self-limiting and its prognosis is typically good.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.79-83
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• 2000

Background: Spontaneous intracranial hypotension is a syndrome characterized by postural headache without trauma, spinal anesthesia or other medical history. The purpose of this study is to analyze the effect of epidural blood patch in spontaneous intracranial hypotension. Methods: The spontaneous intracranial hypotension patients treated with epidural blood patch were analyzed on the symptoms, radiologic images and methods of epidural blood patch retrospectively by the medical records. Results: Patients had postural headache (15 patients) including nausea/vomiting (10 patients), tinnitus (2 patients), neck stiffness (13 patients), vertigo (3 patients) and occular pain (1 patient). Brain CT and MRI showed diffuse enhancement of the pachymeninges (9 patients) and radionuclide cisternography demonstrated direct evidence of leakage (11 patients). With epidural blood patch, the symptoms were promptly relieved in 11 patients. Conclusions: We concluded that epidural blood patch is a good treatment of method in spontaneous intracranial hypotension patients.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.1-4
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• 2009

Objective : In the present study, the authors investigated the clinical and imaging features as well as the therapeutic outcomes of SIH (spontaneous intracranial hypotension) patients. Methods : A retrospective review of 12 SIH patients was carried out. The diagnostic work-up included lumbar tapping and measurement of CSF opening pressure, radioisotope cisternography, brain and spinal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and computed tomography (CT) myelography. Autologous epidural blood patching was performed in patients who did not respond to conservative therapies, including analgesics, steroids, hydration and rest. Results : Typical postural headache was found in 11 (91%) patients. Nine (75%) patients showed pachymeningeal enhancement on their initial T1-weighted MR images. The CSF opening pressure was less than 60 mm$H_2O$ in 9 of 11 patients. Autologous epidural blood patching was performed in 7 patients, and all of them showed good responses. Conclusion : SIH can present with various clinical presentations and neuroimaging findings. Autologous epidural blood patching is thought to be the treatment of choice for patients with SIH.

• Annals of Clinical Neurophysiology
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.190-192
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• 2006

Intracranial hypotension is a benign disorder characterized by orthostatic headache. It is caused by CSF leakage, therefore its treatment of choice has been epidural blood patch when initial conservative treatments were not effective. We would like to report a 26-year-old patient with recurrent orthostatic intracranial hypotension in spite of the successful epidural blood patch several times. Her headache was caused by myelography 8 month ago. Cisternography showed a CSF leakage at the level of L1 vertebral body. Headache was resolved completely after epidural blood patch and then recurred 3 times several months after blood patch. Now, she is free from headache for 5 months after last blood patch.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.137-141
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• 1991

Percutaneous retrogasserian glycerol rhizolysis(PRGR) was performed in 43 patients, a total of 65 times, for the management of typical trigeminal neuralgia from 1987 to 1991. The age of patients was distributed between 19 and 87 years. According to sex 17 were male and 26 were female. Pure glycerol of 0.3-0.8 ml was injected into the Meckel's cave on the affected site. In 31 PRGR(Group I) that had cisternography to titrate the dose of glycerol, when treated, 26 G of these PRGR patients(83.9%) had relief of pain. There were recurrence of pain in 7PRGR (22.6%) and the average interval from the PRGR to recurrence of pain in 7 PRGR(22.6%) and the average interval from the PRGR to recurrence of pain was 16.9 months. In 34 PRGR(Group II) of which bupivacaine was injected to titrate the dose of glycerol, 29 PRGR(85.3%) had relief of pain 80 howing treatment. There were recurrence of pain in 8 PRGR(23.5%) and the average interval from the PRGR to the recurrence of pain was 14.3 months. Finally of all procedures done(65 PRGR), 55 PRGR(84.6%) had relief of pain. There were recurrence of pain in 15 PRGR(23.1%) and the average interval from the PRGR to recurrence of pain was 15.5 months. There was no significant difference between the two groups in the rate of pain relief. There were conjunctival irritation(3 cases), headache(2), vomiting(3), hematoma(2), and herpes simplex(3) as transient complications after PRGR. Corneal ulceration and anesthesia dolorosa did not develop in any cases.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.338-342
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• 1998

Postural headache due to spontaneous intracranial hypotension occurs without any diagnostic lumbar puncture, myelography, cranial or spinal injury, or spinal anesthesia. The clinical characteristics of the syndrome are disappearance of the headache or a notable decrease in its severity with recumbency, the finding of meningeal enhancement and subdural fluid collection on brain MRI, the pleocytosis and the increased CSF protein concentration. We report a case of a 40-year-old woman who exhibited the signs and symptoms of postural headache due to low CSF pressure. Her headache started suddenly at the occiput and radiated to frontal head. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of her brain showed enhancement of the meninges and subdural fluid collection. Intrathecal radionuclide cisternography showed the delayed appearance of the isotope in the cranium and the minimal CSF leak at the left upper thoracic region. Her headache was relieved completely after a lumbar (L2-L3) epidural injection of 12 ml of autologous blood and remained asymptomatic.