Post-dural puncture headache (PDPH) is reported frequently following cesarean section. The present study evaluated the effect of Pregabalin on PDPH among patients undergoing elective cesarean section.

The study involved 136 patients undergoing elective cesarean section, selected by convenience sampling method. It randomized them into two groups of intervention and control (N = 68 people in each group). 

The study recorded the presence of PDPH and its severity in the checklist based on the VAS and prescribed conventional treatments in the case of the occurrence of the PDPH. It also assessed PDPH severity using the 10-cm Visual Analog Scale (VAS).

The study recorded the mean age of participants as 27.82 years and hypotension among 29 people. Regarding pain severity, it found a significantly lower mean pain score in the intervention group than in the control group. It also found a significantly lower frequency of PDPH in the intervention group than in the placebo group. The study found no significant difference between intervention and control groups regarding demographic characteristics.

This study showed that using oral Pregabalin at night before spinal anesthesia in patients undergoing elective cesarean(C-) section renders a preventive effect on the severity and incidence of PDPH.

Karami T, Hoshyar H, Jafari AF. The effect of Pregabalin on post-dural puncture headache among patients undergoing elective cesarean section: A randomized controlled trial. Annals of Medicine and Surgery. 2021;64. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amsu.2021.102226.