Spinal epidurals are generally considered a safe form of pain control during childbirth, whether a mother is about to deliver vaginally or by C-section. Cerebrospinal fluid surrounds and protects the brain and spinal cord. The spinal canal can be affected by epidural procedures, potentially leading to complications. The only problem is that they can lead to devastating injuries — and most expectant mothers have no idea that can happen. A cerebrospinal fluid leak is one such injury that is quite traumatic to experience.
What’s a cerebrospinal fluid leak?
When spinal epidurals are given before delivery, they’re usually low in the mother’s back. Unfortunately, those tiny little holes caused by the epidural catheter in the spine don’t always heal like they should. If that occurs, it allows cerebrospinal fluid to gradually leak out of the brain on a more or less continuous basis, leading to complications such as cerebrospinal fluid leaks. When that happens, the new mother may find herself totally incapacitated by a host of unpleasant symptoms, ranging from:
- Severe head pain
- Double vision
- Nausea
- Numbness in their extremities
- Fatigue
A spinal CSF leak can occur anywhere in the spinal column and is characterized by symptoms such as headaches.
Sitting up, standing, walking, talking, and caring for their newborn can be impossible. If the leak is detected early enough, doctors may try to “patch” the hole that’s allowing the drain. However, patches aren’t always successful in all cases. Worse, if the leak isn’t detected before the new mother goes home, she may end up seeking treatment for her worsening health problems with a doctor who misdiagnoses her with sinusitis, migraines, or another unrelated disorder. That can send her on a spiral of ineffective treatments, new diagnoses, and more health issues. Spontaneous CSF leaks can also occur and pose diagnostic challenges
If you suffered a spinal fluid leak after delivery, what next?
Generally, spinal fluid leaks following a delivery are due to anesthesiology errors. Lumbar puncture is often used to confirm diagnoses related to CSF leaks, although it may not always reflect conditions like intracranial hypertension (IIH) in the presence of chronic nasal leakage of CSF. Those, however, may be compounded by subsequent failures on the part of other medical professionals. In complicated medical situations during pregnancy, a maternal-fetal medicine specialist may be involved to ensure the well-being of both the mother and the baby. Surgical intervention might be necessary to address complications from CSF leaks and prevent further issues.
If you’ve been injured due to a cerebrospinal fluid leak, the best thing you can do is seek guidance from an attorney by calling (888) 522-9444 or filling out a contact form.
