Evaluation the effect of dexamethasone on post-dural puncture headache in cesarean surgery

Introduction: Inflammation is one of the probable causes of post-dural puncture headache (PDPH); logically, therefore, anti-inflammatory drugs such as dexamethasone can reduce the headache. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of intravenous dexamethasone 8 mg on PDPH in cesarean surgery. Methods: This randomized double-blind clinical study was conducted on 104 patients aged from 15 to 45 years. They were in classes 1 or 2 according to the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status classification system and scheduled for elective cesarean section in Valiasr Hospital affiliated with Birjand University of Medical Sciences. The patients were allocated into one of two groups using simple randomization method. In one group, the patients received dexamethasone intravenously before anesthesia technique, while the other group received placebo. Spinal anesthesia using quince 25 needle with 0.5 percent 12-15 milligram bupivacaine was performed for patients in both groups. Forty-eight hours after the operation, the severity of headache was studied and recorded. The collected data were analyzed in SPSS-16 using independent t-test and Fisher’s exact test. The significance level was set at P <0.05. Results: Analysis showed that dexamethasone could not significantly decrease the incidence of PDPH and severity of headache after spinal anesthesia in recovery and within 48 hours after surgery (P >0.05). Conclusions: This study showed that dexamethasone did not have any beneficial effect in prevention of PDPH in cesarean surgery.