Coma resulting from spontaneous intracranial hypotension treated with the epidural blood patch in the Trendelenburg position pre-medicated with acetazolamide

A 62-year-old man had a new onset of severe, orthostatic headache which eventually progressed to a stupor and a coma 3 weeks later. A computed tomography (CT) scan showed bilateral chronic subdural haematoma and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain showed the typical findings of spontaneous intracranial hypotension (SIH). After pre-medication with acetazolamide, he was treated with three lumbar autologous epidural blood patches (EBPs) and kept in the Trendelenburg position, with full recovery. The first lumbar autologous EBP was ineffective and the second was only partially effective because of incorrect execution of the procedure as shown by spinal neuroimaging examination post-EBP. A spinal neuroimaging examination post-EBP is therefore to be recommended in order to confirm the correct execution of procedure. Pre-medication with acetazolamide and keeping the patient in the Trendelenburg position could reduce the flow of spinal cerebrospinal (CSF) leak favouring sealing of the hole.