Exploring the effect of fluid management guided by optic nerve sheath diameter on postoperative headache in women with cesarean section

Abstract In cesarean section surgery, spinal anesthesia can lead to a reduction in intracranial pressure (ICP), which may result in headaches. Adequate fluid replacement is generally required postoperatively to prevent low ICP. However, excessive empirical fluid replacement can increase the circulat...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Qiao Yang, Ruiming Deng, Qiaoling Weng, Tingyu He, Ziqiang Dong, Xianwei Jin, Weibo Zhong
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-06-01
Series:Scientific Reports
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-02979-9
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850137697570521088
author Qiao Yang
Ruiming Deng
Qiaoling Weng
Tingyu He
Ziqiang Dong
Xianwei Jin
Weibo Zhong
author_facet Qiao Yang
Ruiming Deng
Qiaoling Weng
Tingyu He
Ziqiang Dong
Xianwei Jin
Weibo Zhong
author_sort Qiao Yang
collection DOAJ
description Abstract In cesarean section surgery, spinal anesthesia can lead to a reduction in intracranial pressure (ICP), which may result in headaches. Adequate fluid replacement is generally required postoperatively to prevent low ICP. However, excessive empirical fluid replacement can increase the circulatory burden on the patient and potentially elevate ICP, thereby contributing to the occurrence of headaches. This trial aims to investigate whether fluid management guided by ultrasound measurement of the optic nerve sheath diameter can reduce the incidence of postoperative headaches in patients. This single-center randomized controlled clinical trial was conducted at Ganzhou People’s Hospital in China from December 2022 to July 2023. A total of 138 ASA II and III patients aged 18 years and older, scheduled for cesarean section under spinal anesthesia, were randomly assigned to either a restricted infusion group (Group E, n = 71), which underwent restrictive infusion adjustments to maintain the optic nerve sheath diameter within the normal range (2.2–5 mm), or an empirical infusion group (Group C, n = 67), where the optic nerve sheath diameter was solely monitored, and empirical infusion treatment was employed. Within 72 h post-operation, all patients were monitored every 12 h for ultrasound-measured optic nerve sheath diameter (ONSD) and the occurrence of postoperative headaches. The primary outcome was the incidence of postoperative headaches. Secondary outcomes included ONSD assessed by ultrasound, pain scores using the visual analog scale (VAS), postoperative fluid supplementation, nausea and vomiting, back pain, mean arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate (HR), length of hospital stay, and patient satisfaction. The incidence of postoperative headache in Group E was lower than that in Group C, however, this difference was not statistically significant (P = 0.094). There was no difference in the volume of fluid replacement between the two groups within the first 0–12 h post-surgery, but significant difference was observed between 12 and 24 h (P = 0.002). Additionally, there was no significant reduction in discharge time between two groups (P = 0.309). Under ultrasound guidance, maintaining a normal diameter of the optic nerve sheath does not decrease the incidence of postoperative headaches in women with cesarean section receiving a spinal anesthesia. However, it may offer patients a more effective approach to fluid replacement. Trial registration: ChiCTR.org.cn (ChiCTR2400089214). Date of registration: 4/9/2024.
format Article
id doaj-art-41e75a3058f74ebfa084a3016e80e26a
institution OA Journals
issn 2045-2322
language English
publishDate 2025-06-01
publisher Nature Portfolio
record_format Article
series Scientific Reports
spelling doaj-art-41e75a3058f74ebfa084a3016e80e26a2025-08-20T02:30:46ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-06-0115111210.1038/s41598-025-02979-9Exploring the effect of fluid management guided by optic nerve sheath diameter on postoperative headache in women with cesarean sectionQiao Yang0Ruiming Deng1Qiaoling Weng2Tingyu He3Ziqiang Dong4Xianwei Jin5Weibo Zhong6Department of Anesthesiology, Ganzhou Maternal and Child Health Care HospitalDepartment of Anesthesiology, Ganzhou People’s HospitalNanchang University Second Affiliated HospitalDepartment of Anesthesiology, Ganzhou People’s HospitalDepartment of Anesthesiology, Ganzhou People’s HospitalDepartment of Medicine, Graduate School, Nanchang UniversityDepartment of Anesthesiology, Ganzhou People’s HospitalAbstract In cesarean section surgery, spinal anesthesia can lead to a reduction in intracranial pressure (ICP), which may result in headaches. Adequate fluid replacement is generally required postoperatively to prevent low ICP. However, excessive empirical fluid replacement can increase the circulatory burden on the patient and potentially elevate ICP, thereby contributing to the occurrence of headaches. This trial aims to investigate whether fluid management guided by ultrasound measurement of the optic nerve sheath diameter can reduce the incidence of postoperative headaches in patients. This single-center randomized controlled clinical trial was conducted at Ganzhou People’s Hospital in China from December 2022 to July 2023. A total of 138 ASA II and III patients aged 18 years and older, scheduled for cesarean section under spinal anesthesia, were randomly assigned to either a restricted infusion group (Group E, n = 71), which underwent restrictive infusion adjustments to maintain the optic nerve sheath diameter within the normal range (2.2–5 mm), or an empirical infusion group (Group C, n = 67), where the optic nerve sheath diameter was solely monitored, and empirical infusion treatment was employed. Within 72 h post-operation, all patients were monitored every 12 h for ultrasound-measured optic nerve sheath diameter (ONSD) and the occurrence of postoperative headaches. The primary outcome was the incidence of postoperative headaches. Secondary outcomes included ONSD assessed by ultrasound, pain scores using the visual analog scale (VAS), postoperative fluid supplementation, nausea and vomiting, back pain, mean arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate (HR), length of hospital stay, and patient satisfaction. The incidence of postoperative headache in Group E was lower than that in Group C, however, this difference was not statistically significant (P = 0.094). There was no difference in the volume of fluid replacement between the two groups within the first 0–12 h post-surgery, but significant difference was observed between 12 and 24 h (P = 0.002). Additionally, there was no significant reduction in discharge time between two groups (P = 0.309). Under ultrasound guidance, maintaining a normal diameter of the optic nerve sheath does not decrease the incidence of postoperative headaches in women with cesarean section receiving a spinal anesthesia. However, it may offer patients a more effective approach to fluid replacement. Trial registration: ChiCTR.org.cn (ChiCTR2400089214). Date of registration: 4/9/2024.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-02979-9Optic nerve sheath diameterCesarean sectionPostoperative headacheSpinal anesthesia
spellingShingle Qiao Yang
Ruiming Deng
Qiaoling Weng
Tingyu He
Ziqiang Dong
Xianwei Jin
Weibo Zhong
Exploring the effect of fluid management guided by optic nerve sheath diameter on postoperative headache in women with cesarean section
Scientific Reports
Optic nerve sheath diameter
Cesarean section
Postoperative headache
Spinal anesthesia
title Exploring the effect of fluid management guided by optic nerve sheath diameter on postoperative headache in women with cesarean section
title_full Exploring the effect of fluid management guided by optic nerve sheath diameter on postoperative headache in women with cesarean section
title_fullStr Exploring the effect of fluid management guided by optic nerve sheath diameter on postoperative headache in women with cesarean section
title_full_unstemmed Exploring the effect of fluid management guided by optic nerve sheath diameter on postoperative headache in women with cesarean section
title_short Exploring the effect of fluid management guided by optic nerve sheath diameter on postoperative headache in women with cesarean section
title_sort exploring the effect of fluid management guided by optic nerve sheath diameter on postoperative headache in women with cesarean section
topic Optic nerve sheath diameter
Cesarean section
Postoperative headache
Spinal anesthesia
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-02979-9
work_keys_str_mv AT qiaoyang exploringtheeffectoffluidmanagementguidedbyopticnervesheathdiameteronpostoperativeheadacheinwomenwithcesareansection
AT ruimingdeng exploringtheeffectoffluidmanagementguidedbyopticnervesheathdiameteronpostoperativeheadacheinwomenwithcesareansection
AT qiaolingweng exploringtheeffectoffluidmanagementguidedbyopticnervesheathdiameteronpostoperativeheadacheinwomenwithcesareansection
AT tingyuhe exploringtheeffectoffluidmanagementguidedbyopticnervesheathdiameteronpostoperativeheadacheinwomenwithcesareansection
AT ziqiangdong exploringtheeffectoffluidmanagementguidedbyopticnervesheathdiameteronpostoperativeheadacheinwomenwithcesareansection
AT xianweijin exploringtheeffectoffluidmanagementguidedbyopticnervesheathdiameteronpostoperativeheadacheinwomenwithcesareansection
AT weibozhong exploringtheeffectoffluidmanagementguidedbyopticnervesheathdiameteronpostoperativeheadacheinwomenwithcesareansection