After a spinal block for cesarean delivery, which management helps relieve postdural headache?

• A. Bed rest with hydration
• B. Elevate the legs
• C. Administer oxygen
• D. Immediate antibiotics

Answer: (A)

Postdural puncture headache after spinal anesthesia comes from CSF leaking and dropping the pressure inside the skull. The headache is often worse when standing or sitting and better when lying flat because staying horizontal helps maintain more even CSF pressure and reduces the downward traction on pain-sensitive structures. Keeping the patient in bed and ensuring adequate hydration are the best initial steps to relieve symptoms, since lying down directly addresses the orthostatic component and fluids help support CSF volume. Elevating the legs won’t counteract the CSF-pressure changes that drive this headache, and antibiotics aren’t needed because this is not an infection. Oxygen isn’t a standard, proven treatment for this type of headache, and more definitive therapy like an epidural blood patch is considered if symptoms persist.