Education & Accreditation Upcoming Events Webinar: Postdural Puncture Headache (PDPH) in Obstetrics

Webinar: Postdural puncture headache (PDPH) in Obstetrics

November 26, 2025
8 pm ET

Register

Based on our recent Continuing Professional Development module, this webinar will review the literature on postdural puncture headache (PDPH) in obstetrics. The pathophysiology, risk factors, diagnosis, and outcomes are discussed. We explore the evidence for prevention and treatment options of PDPH in obstetric patients and the importance of the anesthesiologist's role in caring for these patients. 

After participating in this activity, participants will be able to: 

  1. Explain the theoretical causes and complications of postdural puncture headache and the modifiable and nonmodifiable risk factors involved in postdural puncture headache development.  

  1. Discuss the differential diagnosis of postpartum headache and the symptoms of PDPH that should prompt further investigations, work-up, and referral. 

  1. Describe an evidence-based approach to performing an epidural blood patch in a patient with postdural puncture headache.  

This event is an Accredited Group Learning Activity (Section 1) as defined by the Maintenance of Certification program of The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada and approved by the Canadian Anesthesiologists' Society. You may claim a maximum of 1 hour (credits are automatically calculated).​


Moderator: Dr Kathryn Sparrow
Memorial University of Newfoundland
St. John's, Newfoundland 
 

Dr Kathryn Sparrow is an Associate Professor at Memorial University of Newfoundland's Discipline of Anesthesia. She is an anesthesiologist at St. Clare's Mercy Hospital in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador. Following Anesthesiology training at Memorial University of Newfoundland, she completed an Airway Fellowship at Dalhousie University in 2016 and an MScHQ at Queen's University in 2018. Dr Sparrow is the current Canadian Anesthesiologists’ Society and Canadian Journal of Anesthesia CPD Editor. She is the former Chair of the Canadian Anesthetic Incident Reporting System, a member of the Canadian Anesthesiologists’ Society Clinical Practice Guidelines Committee, and she serves as the Memorial University Faculty of Medicine Postgraduate Medical Education QI/QA Educational Director. Her areas of interest include healthcare and quality improvement, patient safety, quality metrics, and airway management. 

Presenter: Dr Wesley Edwards
University of Ottawa, Ottawa Hospital
Ottawa, ON

Talk title: PDPH in Obstetrics - Treatment with Epidural Blood Patch 

Bio coming soon.
 

Presenter: Dr Lorraine Chow
Alberta Health Services and University of Calgary, Foothills Medical Centre
Calgary, AB

Talk title: PDPH in Obstetrics - Diagnosis, Prevention, Conservative Treatment  

Dr Lorraine Chow is a Clinical Associate Professor at the Cumming School of Medicine at the University of Calgary.  She completed medical school at the University of Ottawa, anesthesia residency at the University of Calgary, obstetric anesthesia fellowship at Harvard University and thoracic anesthesia fellowship at University of Toronto. Dr Chow was the previous director of Obstetric Anesthesia at Foothills Medical Centre, and she was the Medical Director of the Patient Blood Management Program in the Calgary Zone for the past 10 years. She is the clinical lead and fellowship director of Thoracic Anesthesia at Foothills Medical Centre. Her areas of research interest include hematologic diseases in pregnancy, coagulation testing and transfusion practices, and airway management in pregnancy. She is the current Chair of the Obstetric section of the Canadian Anesthesiologists’ Society. She is also interested in residency education, and she is the current chair of the Competency Committee for the Anesthesiology residency program. 

Presenter: Dr Valerie Zaphiratos
Université de Montréal and CHU Sainte-Justine Hospital
Montréal, QC

Talk title -  PDPH in Obstetrics – Pathophysiology, Risk factors, Outcomes

Dr Valerie Zaphiratos is an Obstetric Anesthesiologist at CHU Sainte-Justine mother-child hospital in Montréal, Canada. She was Assistant Chief of Anesthesia and responsible for Obstetric Anesthesia at Maisonneuve-Rosemont hospital in Montréal. She is a Clinical Associate Professor at the Université de Montréal and her research interests include uterotonics, labour pain, and morbidity of uterine repair during cesarean delivery. She is a former Chair of the Obstetrics section for the Canadian Anesthesiologists’ Society.