• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.203-206
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• 2013

There have been reports of abnormalities in the lumbosacral region involving a lower-than-normal termination of the dural sac, which is caused by disease or anatomical variation. Inadvertent dural puncture or other unexpected complications can occur during caudal epidural block or adhesiolysis in patients with these variations, but only a small number of case reports have described this issue. We report a case of dural puncture by the introducer needle before attempting caudal epidural adhesiolysis, which occurred even though the needle was not advanced upward after penetrating the sacrococcygeal ligament. Dural puncture was caused by a morphological abnormality in the lumbosacral region, with no pathological condition; the dural sac terminal was located more distally than normal. However, dural puncture could have been prevented if we had checked for such an abnormality in the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) taken before the procedure.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.203-206
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• 1988

Evaluation of inadvertent dural puncture occuring among 308 epidural blocks done for the relief of pain from various conditions was performed. Dural puncture was suspected in 5 out of 308 epidural bloks. (1.6%) Aspiration of CSF was negative in 3 cases in which dural puncture was suspected only after developing spinal anesthesia. Of the 3 negative CSF aspirations, one case had a history of laminectomy. Adhesions of the adjacent tissues might result in the loss of flexibility and a decrease in potential epidural space which might cause dural tearing during injection and subarachoid injection of the local anesthetic followed by high spinal anesthesia. In another case, the needle tip was obstructed by tissue which led to negative aspiration of CSF and failure to feel loss of resistance. The second injection at the same site may cause subarachnoid injection of the local anesthetic through the previously perforated dura mater and in turn, lead to spinal anesthesia. In the last case, there was no reason to suspect dural puncture since the loss of resistance plus air rebound were definite and aspiration of CSF was negative, but dural puncture was suspected after the patient developed spinal anesthesia.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.57 no.1
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• pp.54-57
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• 2015

A 66-year-old woman presented with intermittent paraparesis and generalized tonic-clonic seizure. Cerebral angiography demonstrated dural arteriovenous fistula (AVF) involving superior sagittal sinus (SSS), which was associated with SSS occlusion on the posterior one third. The dural AVF was fed by bilateral middle meningeal arteries (MMAs), superficial temporal arteries (STAs) and occipital arteries with marked retrograde cortical venous reflux. Transfemoral arterial Onyx embolization was performed through right MMA and STA, but it was not successful, which resulted in partial obliteration of dural AVF because of tortuous MMA preventing the microcatheter from reaching the fistula closely enough. Second procedure was performed through left MMA accessed by direct MMA puncture following small decortications of cranium overlying the MMA using diamond drill one week later. Microcatheter could be located far distally to the fistula through 5 F sheath placed into the MMA and complete obliteration of dural AVF was achieved using 3.9 cc of Onyx.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.251-255
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• 1996

Headache after epidural block is the most frequent result of an unintentional dural puncture. This form of headache is usually caused by cerebrospinal fluid leakage through the dural puncture site. Another proposed cause of postdural puncture headache is the unintentional injection of air into the subarachnoid space. We experienced a case of severe headache with a patient after lumbar epidural block and discovered air in the intracranial subarachnoid space(pneumocephalus) with the aid of brain computerized tomography.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.296-304
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• 2018

Epiduroscopy is defined as a percutaneous, minimally invasive endoscopic investigation of the epidural space. Periduroscopy is currently used mainly as a diagnostic tool to directly visualize epidural adhesions in patients with failed back surgery syndrome (FBSS), and as a therapeutic action in patients with low back pain by accurately administering drugs, releasing inflammation, washing the epidural space, and mechanically releasing the scars displayed. Considering epiduroscopy a minimally invasive technique should not lead to underestimating its potential complications. The purpose of this review is to summarize and explain the mechanisms of the side effects strictly related to the technique itself, leaving aside complications considered typical for any kind of extradural procedure (e.g. adverse reactions due to the administration of drugs or bleeding) and not fitting the usual concept of epiduroscopy for which the data on its real usefulness are still lacking. The most frequent complications and side effects of epiduroscopy can be summarized as non-persistent post-procedural low back and/or leg discomfort/pain, transient neurological symptoms (headache, hearing impairment, paresthesia), dural puncture with or without post dural puncture headache (PDPH), post-procedural visual impairment with retinal hemorrhage, encephalopathy resulting in rhabdomyolysis due to a dural tear, intradural cyst, as well as neurogenic bladder and seizures. We also report for first time, to our knowledge, a case of symptomatic pneumocephalus after epiduroscopy, and try to explain the reason for this event and the precautions to avoid this complication.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.40 no.5
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• pp.384-386
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• 2006

Acute subdural hematoma is an exceptionally rare, but life-threatening complication of spinal anesthesia. The authors report here on a case of acute subdural hematoma in a 52-year-old male who underwent an arthroscopic knee joint operation under spinal epidural anesthesia due to tearing of the medial meniscus. He complained of headache after surgery. Computed tomography[CT] revealed acute subdural hematoma in the right fronto-tempo-parietal area. The headache progressed in spite of analgesics and bed rest; two weeks later, the CT showed subacute subdural hematoma with a mass effect. The patient improved after surgical decompression. The pathogenesis of subdural hematoma formation after dural puncture is discussed and we briefly review the relevant literature. Prolonged and severe postdural puncture headache[PDPH] should be viewed with suspicion and investigated promptly to rule out any intracranial complications. Immediate treatment of the PDPH with an epidural blood patch to prevent further CSF leakage should be considered.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.89-93
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• 1989

We performed the autologous epidural blood patch (AEBP) for the relief of headache and other related symptoms following dural punctures of the lumbar region during 8 years from 1981 to 1988. The total of 37 patients with the patching consisted of 9 cases in 3007 of spinal anesthesia, 12 accidental dural punctures in 4283 cases of lumbar epidural anesthesia, 12 cases in 4747 of epidural analgesia for back pain control, 3 cases of myelography and a case of diagnostic lumbar puncture. The headaches were relieved completely in 35 cases following the first AEBP and the remaining two were also relieved following the second AEBP. We think that the AEBP for postdural-puncture headache is the treatment of choice.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.65 no.5
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• pp.688-696
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• 2022

Objective : Transvenous embolization (TVE) via an occluded inferior petrosal sinus (IPS) in a cavernous sinus dural arteriovenous fistula (CSDAVF) is challenging, often requiring navigation of a microcatheter through resistive obstacles between the occluded IPS and shunted pouch (SP), although the reopening technique was successfully performed. We report five cases of successful access to the cavernous sinus (CS) or SP using the rigid-tipped microguidewire such as chronic total occlusion (CTO) wire aiming to share our initial experience with this wire. Methods : In this retrospective study, four patients with CSDAVF underwent five procedures using the CTO wire puncture during transfemoral transvenous coil embolization. Puncture success, shunt occlusion, and complications including any hemorrhage and cranial nerve palsy were evaluated. Results : Despite successful access through the occluded IPS, further entry into the target area using neurointerventional devices was impossible due to a short-segment stricture before the CS (three cases) and a membranous barrier within the CS (two cases). However, puncturing these structures using the rigid-tipped microguidewire was successful in all cases. We could advance the microcatheter over the rigid-tipped microguidewire for the navigation to the SP and achieved complete occlusion of the SP without complications. Conclusion : The use of the rigid-tipped microguidewire in the TVE via the occluded IPS of the CSDAVF would be feasible and safe.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.80-86
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• 2018

The Epidural blood patch is considered the gold standard for managing postdural puncture headache when supportive measures fail. However, it is a procedure which can lead to another inadvertent dural puncture. Other potential adverse events that could occur during a blood patch are meningitis, neurological deficits, and unconsciousness. The bilateral greater occipital nerve block has been used for treating chronic headaches in patients with PDPH with a single injection. This minimally invasive, simple procedure can be considered for patients early, along with other supportive treatment, and an epidural blood patch can be avoided.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.59 no.1
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• pp.17-25
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• 2016

Objective : Treatment of intracranial dural arteriovenous fistulas (dAVFs) remains a challenge. However, after introduction of Onyx, transarterial approach is the preferred treatment option in many centers. We report our experience of dAVFs embolization with special emphasis on transarterial approach. Methods : Seventeen embolization procedures were performed in 13 patients with dAVFs between Jan 2009 and Oct 2014. Clinical symptoms, location and type of fistulas, embolization methods, complications, radiological and clinical outcomes were evaluated using charts and PACS images. Results : All 13 patients had symptomatic lesions. The locations of fistulas were transverse-sigmoid sinus in 6, middle fossa dura in 4, cavernous sinus in 2, and superior sagittal sinus in 1 patient. Cognard types were as follows : I in 4, IIa in 2, IIa+IIb in 5, and IV in 2. Embolization procedures were performed ${\geq}2$ times in 3 patients. Nine patients were treated with transarterial Onyx embolization alone. One of these required direct surgical puncture of middle meningeal artery. Complete obliteration of fistulas was achieved in 11/13 (85%) patients. There were no complications except for 1 case of Onyx migration in cavernous dAVF. Modified Rankin scale score at post-operative 3 months were 0 in 11, and 3 in 2 patients. Conclusion : Transarterial Onyx embolization can be a first line therapeutic option in patients with dAVFs. However, transvenous approach should be tried first in cavernous sinus dAVF because of the risk of intracranial migration of liquid embolic materials. Furthermore, combined surgical endovascular approach can be considered as a useful option in inaccessible route.