%0 Case Reports
%T Headache that will not go away...Third ED visit is the charm?
%A Holmquist A
%A Calick D
%A Perkins J
%A Keyes D
%J Am J Emerg Med
%V 83
%N 0
%D 2024 Sep 25
%M 38971635
%F 4.093
%R 10.1016/j.ajem.2024.06.032
%X Subdural hematoma is an uncommon complication of epidural analgesia or diagnostic lumbar puncture. Headache is a common complaint for patients with either a subdural hematoma or a post-dural puncture headache. Because post-dural puncture headaches are commonly seen in the Emergency Department, the potential to miss more serious pathology arises. We present the case of a young female who suffered bilateral subdural hematomas following epidural analgesia during childbirth. She presented twice to the Emergency Department and was treated for a post-dural puncture headache before computed tomography imaging revealed the diagnosis on the third Emergency Department encounter. This case highlights the importance of exploring all potential diagnoses when a patient presents with a headache after either epidural analgesia or a diagnostic lumbar puncture, especially if the patient returns after unsuccessful treatment for a presumptive post-dural puncture headache.