A blood patch is commonly used to treat postural headaches that occur due to a cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak following a dural puncture, such as after a lumbar puncture or spinal anesthesia. These headaches worsen when sitting or standing because the loss of CSF lowers the pressure around the brain and spinal cord, causing pain. The blood patch works by injecting the patient’s own blood into the epidural space near the site of the leak. This blood clots and forms a seal, effectively “patching” the hole in the dura mater and stopping further leakage of CSF, which helps restore normal pressure and relieve the headache.
The procedure is performed under sterile conditions with the patientusually positioned lying on their side or sitting up slightly to allowaccess to the lower back. A needle is carefully inserted into the epidural space, guided by anatomical landmarks and sometimes imaging, and a small amount of the patient’s blood—typically 10 to 20 milliliters—is slowly injected. The patient may feel a sensation of pressure as the blood spreads and seals the leak. Most people experience significant headache relief within hours to a day after the procedure as the blood
patch restores the CSF pressure and resolves the symptoms caused by the leak.
