Lumbar Epidural Blood Patch in Houston
Surrounding the spinal cord are three layers of protective tissue called the meninges. Collectively, the meninges are composed of the dura (top layer), the arachnoid (middle layer), and the pia (deepest layer). If the dura develops an opening that allows cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) to leak, the resulting low levels of CSF may cause some people to experience headaches, nausea, dizziness, and tinnitus when standing or sitting. Receiving an epidural blood patch in Houston is the first-line treatment for southeast and central Texas residents suffering from dural puncture headaches.
A minimally invasive procedure that effectively stops CSF from leaking out of the dura, the lumbar epidural blood patch (EBP) alleviates the chronic headaches, nausea, and other symptoms associated with dural punctures resulting from epidural injections, spinal surgery, lumbar punctures, and lumbar myelograms. In some cases, the dura may spontaneously start leaking for no known reason. The epidural blood patch can also be used to relieve headaches due to spontaneous dural punctures.
What is the Lumbar Epidural Blood Patch?
Between the dura and the interior surface of the bone that contains the spinal cord lies the epidural space. This space encompasses the length of the spine and contains nerve roots, arteries, veins, and fat. Epidural drugs are nearly always injected into this space that is outside the dura layer.
Blood injected into the epidural space comes from the patient’s peripheral vein. Found in the arms, legs, feet, or hands, peripheral veins carry oxygen-poor blood from the body back to the heart. About three-quarters of your body’s blood is flowing within veins at any given time.
An EBP seals the dural puncture and stops cerebrospinal fluid from leaking. Although doctors aren’t certain of the mechanism of action that causes this sealing, they believe the blood injected into the epidural space increases pressure within the space. This pressurization seems to displace cerebral spinal fluid away from the site of the leakage to another compartment. In addition, autologous blood taken from the patient effectively forms a clot to help close a dural puncture.
Once CSF stops leaking, symptoms of a dural puncture gradually diminish as levels of the fluid stabilize. If you have been diagnosed with dural puncture headache syndrome and can’t find relief from standard treatments, learn more about receiving an epidural blood patch in Houston by calling NW Surgery Center today at (713) 462-3194.
Benefits of Epidural Blood Patch Surgery
A noninvasive therapeutic procedure used to treat a variety of intracranial hypotension symptoms, the epidural blood patch also provides:
Rapid relief of spinal headache symptoms- Non-invasive alternative to surgical interventions
- High success rates in sealing CSF leaks
- Minimizes or eliminates the need for pain medications
- Improved quality of life and functional ability
- Shorter recovery time compared to other treatment options
According to the National Institutes of Health, an epidural blood patch has an 85 per cent success rate and can be repeated when necessary. A second EBP procedure has a nearly 90 percent success rate.
Let NW Surgery Help You
As Houston’s #1 outpatient surgical center, NW Surgery has been treating patients with exceptional, personalized care for nearly 25 years. Physician-owned and licensed by Medicare and the State of Texas, NW Surgery offers the epidural blood patch in Houston along with orthopedic services (spine, ankle, foot, hand, and knee surgery), pain management programs, and ketamine treatments. We are also in-network with many insurance companies, accepting Medicare, liability letters of protection, Workers’ Comp, and cash-based payments.
No Insurance Surgery Providers in Houston
NW Surgery is one of the few no-insurance surgery providers in Houston. This allows us to provide our patients with superior quality care without imposing financial stress on them during their recovery. At NW Surgery, we believe in the importance of preventative care to ensure your health and well-being receive prompt, professional attention from experienced physicians and healthcare specialists. We also believe that having no insurance should never be a barrier to accessing the best healthcare available in Texas.
Schedule a Consultation at NW Surgery Center Today
If you have been diagnosed with a dural puncture or suffer from intracranial hypotension syndrome, stop searching for “epidural blood patch near me” and please call (713) 462-3194 today to schedule an appointment. The benefits of an epidural blood patch may be just what you need to restore your quality of life by reducing or eliminating debilitating symptoms.
