Abstract: Objective To evaluate the feasibility of injecting saline continuously by PCEA for preventing and treating post-epidural puncture headache(PEPH).Methods Forty-six patients who had had their dura punctured through,were divided into 2 groups;Group A(n=37): in this group patients received combined spinal-epidural anesthesia in another interspinal space if spinal arachnoid was punctured through,and saline injected continuously into the epidural space post-operatively;Group B(n=9): no injection into epidural space,patients received general anesthesia after spinal arachnoid was punctured through.The incidence of post-epidural puncture headache were recorded in all patients.Results The incidence of PEPH in group A was 16.2%,The incidence of PEPH in group B was 100%.Conclusion Injecting saline continuously by PCEA is effective in preventing and treating post-epidural puncture headache.

Key words: post-epidural puncture headache, patient controlled epidural analgesia, headache