Epidural blood patch: A study on an experimental model

Aim: Epidural blood patch has been used to treat spinal headache with varying success. An experimental model was designed to ascertain whether an epidural blood patch can be used to seal the needle puncture sites in dural repair. Materials and Methods: Bovine dura was secured to the lower end of an open-ended calibrated plastic cylinder. Multiple interrupted stitches were applied over a 02 cm length of the dura without any incision. The cylinder was filled with colored saline gradually with the dura placed in a dependent position. Height of the water column at which sutured dura leaked was recorded. A layer of fresh blood was laid over the dura and allowed to clot. The test was repeated and the hydrostatic pressure at which leak took place was noted again. The test was repeated three times. Similar studies were done with two specimens with 02-cm dural incisions repaired with interrupted stitches of 4-0 silk in one specimen and 4-0 prolene in another, and three specimens with 3-mm unsutured dural rent in one and dural punctures made with 23-G and 26-G spinal needles in the other two. Results: All the dural preparations leaked, at a very low hydrostatic pressure (