A double-blind placebo controlled trial on effectiveness of prophylactic dexamethasone for preventing post- dural puncture headache after spinal anesthesia for cesarean section.

Aim: To determine the effect of dexamethasone in reducing post-dural puncture headache (PDPH) after spinal anesthesia for cesarean section (CS).

Methods: A double blind placebo controlled randomized trial of parturients undergoing CS under spinal anesthesia was conducted. Participants ( = 192) were randomly (1:1 ratio) given either 2mls (8 mg) of dexamethasone ( = 96) intravenously or 2mls of normal saline ( = 96) intravenously as placebo after clamping the umbilical cord. Visual analogue scale was used to assess the incidence and severity of PDPH on the first and fourth post-operative days. The primary outcome measure was incidence of PDPH while the secondary outcome measure was incidence of nausea and vomiting. Analysis was by intention-to-treat.

Results: Baseline socio-demographic and clinical variables were similar between the two groups and none of the women was lost to follow up. The incidence of PDPH (8.3% vs 25.0%;  = .002) and nausea (11.5% vs 25.0%;  = .015) were significantly lower in dexamethasone group. The severity of headache in the control groups were statistically higher on the first ( < .001) and fourth ( < .001) post-operative days. .

Conclusion: Prophylactic dexamethasone reduces the incidence and severity of PDPH on both the first and fourth post-operative day after spinal anesthesia for CS. There was also an improvement on the incidence of nausea on the dexamethasone group compared to control.