Sinus venous thrombosis: a differential diagnosis of postpartum headache

Arch Gynecol Obstet. 2012 Jan;285(1):93-7. doi: 10.1007/s00404-011-1964-0. Epub 2011 Jul 20.

Abstract

In this report, we describe a patient who developed severe headache following epidural analgesia for labor and delivery. Although the epidural puncture had been reported to be uneventful, headache was initially suspected to result from an accidental dural puncture. After the headache worsened, a sinus venous thrombosis was suspected and subsequently confirmed by magnetic resonance imaging. This case highlights the difficulty of differential diagnosis of headache in the postnatal period in patients after EDA and stresses the necessity of considering alternative pathologies.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Analgesia, Epidural / adverse effects
  • Analgesics / therapeutic use
  • Anticoagulants / therapeutic use
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Female
  • Fibrinolytic Agents / therapeutic use
  • Heparin / therapeutic use
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Post-Dural Puncture Headache / diagnosis*
  • Post-Dural Puncture Headache / drug therapy
  • Postpartum Period*
  • Pregnancy
  • Puerperal Disorders / diagnosis*
  • Puerperal Disorders / drug therapy
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Venous Thrombosis / diagnosis*
  • Venous Thrombosis / drug therapy
  • Warfarin / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Analgesics
  • Anticoagulants
  • Fibrinolytic Agents
  • Warfarin
  • Heparin