A Phase 3 interventional study of Sphenopalatine Ganglion Block and Blood patch in PDPH and Post Dural Puncture Headache, sponsored by University Hospital, Clermont-Ferrand. Recruiting at 1 site in France. Open to participants aged 18 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-02-27.
Sponsored by University Hospital, Clermont-Ferrand · Phase 3, Interventional, and Treatment
Post-dural puncture headache (PDPH) is an iatrogenic complication following a dural puncture, which may occur after lumbar puncture, spinal or epidural anesthesia. These headaches are defined as positional headaches, which worsen in the upright position and improve in the supine position, occurring within 5 days after a dural puncture.
PDPH is disabling, particularly in the postpartum period and is often associated with symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, neck stiffness, photophobia, and hearing loss. While serious immediate complications (e.g., subdural hematoma, cerebral venous thrombosis) are rare, long-term consequences - including chronic headaches, neck or low back pain and depression, have been described.
A conservative treatment is usually started during the first 24 hours, but it often proves insufficient, leading to the use of an additional epidural blood patch therapy. While considered as the gold standard, this procedure is invasive and presents limitations. The effectiveness of the epidural blood patch is variable (33-91 %), and the need for a second blood patch is not uncommon. The risks associated with the procedure include second dural puncture, low back pain, vasovagal syncope and paresthesia. Serious complications could occur with reported cases of aseptic meningitis or acute subdural hematoma.
An emerging alternative is the sphenopalatine ganglion block that is a less invasive procedure showing promising results. Several recent trials suggested the safety, feasibilty and efficacy of this intervention with excellent tolerance. Then, we aim to compare the efficacy and safety of these procedures in a randomized controlled trial.
This is a single-center interventional study classified as a clinical drug trial (European Regulation n°536-2014).
Patients suffering from post-dural puncture headache resistant to medical treatment for 24 hours are refered by the treating physician to the referent anesthesia team for consultation.
Patient screening for the study is realised and study information is delivered by the anesthesia team. After the verification of inclusion and non-inclusion criteria, inform consent is searched. The patient is managed either with an epidural blood patch or a sphenopalatine ganglion block, depending on the group of randomisation. During at least 30 minutes post-intervention, patients are monitored in the post-anesthesia care unit.
Headache intensity is assessed using the numerical rating scale just before the intervention and at 30 minutes, 1 hour, 2 hours, 6 hours, 24 hours, 48 hours and 7 days post-intervention. All secondary outcomes are evaluated during the 7 days after the intervention. This assessment is carried out by a clinical research associate blinded to the treatment allocation.
The patient will be hospitalized for at least 6 hours and if the treatment is ineffective after 24 hours, a rescue therapy with an epidural blood patch will be mandated, regardless of the patient's randomization group. If the patient is discharged within 7 days follow up the intervention, the numerical rating scale and secondary outcomes assessments will be conducted by telephone.
125 studies on the registry are indexed under Post-Dural Puncture Headache; 25 are open to participants now.
This study's planned enrollment of 80 is close to the median of 80 across 82 interventional studies indexed under Post-Dural Puncture Headache.
Browse Post-Dural Puncture Headache studies →University Hospital, Clermont-Ferrand is the lead sponsor of 841 studies on the registry; 178 are open to participants now.
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Exclusion Criteria:
Clinicians perform an epidural blood patch following current clinical guidelines.
Drug: Blood patch
Clinicians perform a sphenopalatin ganglion block following current clinical guidelines.
Drug: Sphenopalatine Ganglion Block
The sphenopalatine ganglion block is performed in the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU). The patient is continuously monitored, including measurement of oxygen saturation, heart rate, and arterial blood pressure. The patient is placed in the supine position with the head extended. The anesthesiologist inserts a cotton-tipped applicator (sterile microbiology swab) soaked with 2.5% lidocaine cream into each nasal cavity until bony contact is reached. Subsequently, 1 mL of 5% injectable lidocaine is administered into each nasal cavity. The cotton-tipped applicators are left in place for 10 minutes and then removed. If headache persists upon patient mobilization to the upright position, the sphenopalatine ganglion block may be repeated a second time.
The epidural blood patch is performed in the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU). The patient is continuously monitored, with measurement of oxygen saturation, heart rate, and arterial blood pressure. The patient is seated at the edge of the bed, with the anesthesiologist positioned behind the patient. The procedure is carried out in strict adherence to aseptic techniques. The puncture is ideally performed at the L3-L4 or L4-L5 interspace, preferably at or below the level of the initial puncture. Local anesthesia is achieved using 1% injectable lidocaine at the puncture site. The epidural space is identified using the loss-of-resistance technique with saline. Once the epidural space has been identified, peripheral venous blood is collected and slowly injected into the epidural space until the patient reports a sensation of pressure or lumbar pain, with a maximum volume of 30 mL. The patient is then placed in the strict supine position and monitored for at least 30 minutes in the PACU.
The main objective of our study is to evaluate the efficacy of the sphenopalatine ganglion block in the management of post-dural puncture headache compared to the epidural blood patch.
The primary outcome measure is the evolution of headache intensity in standing position, evaluated using a numerical rating scale \[ranging from 0 (no pain) to 10 (the worst pain ever)\] at the beginning of the intervention, at 30 minutes, 1 hour, 2 hours, 6 hours, 24 hours, 48 hours and 7 days after the performance of a sphenopalatine ganglion block or an epidural blood patch.
Time frame: From the beginning of the intervention to the end of following at 7 days
The proportion of patients considered to be in pain
Proportion of patients experiencing pain according to thresholds commonly reported in the literature and evaluated using a numerical rating scale \[ranging from 0 (no pain) to 10 (the worst pain ever)\]
Time frame: At 30 minutes, 1 hour, 2 hours, 6 hours, 24 hours, 48 hours, and 7 days
Analgesic consumption
Analgesic consumption (paracetamol, nefopam, NSAIDs, opioids) in milligrams after the procedure
Time frame: After the initial procedure to the end of following at 7 days
The need for rescue therapy
Need for rescue treatment with an epidural blood patch after the initial procedure
Time frame: After the initial procedure to the end of following at 7 days
Length of hospital stay
Time frame: From enrollment to the end of following at 7 days
Headache intensity at different time points
Headache intensity is evaluated using a numerical rating scale \[ranging from 0 (no pain) to 10 (the worst pain ever)\]
Time frame: At 30 minutes, 1 hour, 2 hours, 6 hours, 24 hours, 48 hours, and 7 days post-intervention.
Occurrence of adverse events
Time frame: During the procedure
Occurrence of serious adverse events
Time frame: From enrollment to the end of following at 7 days
Patient satisfaction
Patient satisfaction assessed 7 days after treatment using a 5-item Likert scale. The Likert scale is a 5-point forced-choice scale (strongly agree, agree, neither agree nor disagree, disagree, strongly disagree). It is a widely used ordinal psychometric tool that assesses the degree of agreement or disagreement of respondents with a series of items. In this study, the following items were used: * The procedure (epidural blood patch or sphenopalatine ganglion block) was an unpleasant/painful experience. * The procedure (epidural blood patch or sphenopalatine ganglion block) effectively relieved my headache. * The procedure (epidural blood patch or sphenopalatine ganglion block) provided rapid relief of my headache. * At present, I no longer experience any symptoms of post-dural puncture headache.
Time frame: At day 7 post-intervention.
Plan to share: No
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University Hospital, Clermont-Ferrand