Epidural blood patch (EBP) was performed for the treatment of severe postlumbar puncture cephalalgia in 118 young patients. Following the first EBP, 105 patients had relief of headache. Eleven of the 13 in whom it failed had a second EBP, with adequate relief in 10, giving an overall success of 97.5 percent. Lumbar epidural, caudal, and spinal procedures were successful in 3 patients 105 to 380 days after EBP. Soon after EBP, one patient developed facial paralysis and one complained of episodes of vertigo, dizziness, tinnitus, and ataxia without headaches. Residual complications included backache and/or back stiffness in 22 patients and paresthesia in two. Two-year follow-up revealed 95 percent patient acceptance of the procedure. EBP was found to be a safe, effective method for treating severe postlumbar puncture cephalalgia, provided a proper diagnosis is made and there is no contraindication.

1 In 17 gynaecological patients with postoperative pain the analgesic efficacy of intravenous lysine salicylate 1.8 g (corresponding to acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) 1.0 g) and dipyrone 1.0 g were compared in a double‐blind randomized study. 2 In the ASA group, mean pain relief and pain intensity difference scores reached a maximum 30 min after drug administration and remained at this level for the next 90 minutes. 3 In the dipyrone group, these scores reached their peak 60 min after drug administration and seemed to fall off during the next hour. 4 The mean pain relief and intensity difference scores were greater following aspirin than dipyrone. However, firm conclusions cannot be drawn from the results of this small study.

Postprandial renal blood flow was studied in 14 conscious dogs on a chronic high and low sodium intake on 72 days after implantation of an electromagnetic flow transducer around the left renal artery. Fasting renal blood flow was 11.7 plus or minus 3.2 ml/min with kg on high socium intake (43 days) and 11.5 plus or minus 3.3 ml/min with kg on low sodium intake (29 days). During ingestion no change of renal blood flow occurred; mean arterial pressure rose transiently. During digestion renal blood flow increased always and was, like the fasting renal blood flow of dogs on a high sodium intake was 41 plus or minus 23%, and of dogs on a low sodium intake 35 plus or minus 15% referring to fasting controls; peak increase mostly occurred between 60 and90 min postprandially and was due to a decrease of renal vascular resistance. Renal blood flow also increased after augmentation of intravascular volume by an intravenous infusion; volume receptors may be involved.

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