Epidural Blood Patch

An epidural blood patch is a procedure used to treat spinal headaches (post-dural puncture headaches) caused by a cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak. This can occur after a lumbar puncture, epidural injection, or spinal surgery. During the procedure, a small amount of the patient's own blood is injected into the epidural space near the site of the CSF leak. The blood forms a clot that seals the leak, relieving the severe positional headaches that characterize this condition. Relief is often immediate or occurs within hours.