Neurologic complications of cerebral angiography. A retrospective study of complication rate and patient risk factors.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the neurologic complication rate and individual patient risk factors in cerebral angiographies using the digital subtraction angiography (DSA) technique and non-ionic contrast media in a department with many radiologists in training.


METHODS
A retrospective study of 483 cerebral angiographic examinations in 454 patients was carried out. The following parameters were registered: sex and age of the patient, indication for the angiography, cerebral CT diagnosis, laboratory data, type of anesthesia, type of angiographic procedure, level of training of the angiographer, number of participating angiographers, type of catheters, number of vessels catheterized, number of exposures, use of compression series, total amount of contrast media, diagnosis of the angiogram, complications and duration of complications.


RESULTS
The frequency of all neurologic complications was 2.3%, the frequency of persistent neurologic deficits was 0.4%. Non-neurologic complications were observed in 14.7% of the examinations. Of all the parameters studied, the only factor that significantly increased neurologic risk was a normal angiogram, a finding we are inclined to ascribe to chance. Performance of a compression series showed a trend towards increasing the neurologic risk.


CONCLUSIONS
This study showed a complication rate of persistent neurologic deficits of 0.4% which is in accordance with other recent reports. A compression series should not be performed routinely, but only on special indication. This study confirms the low risk of cerebral angiography when performed in a neuroradiological department using the DSA technique and non-ionic contrast media.
Leffers
A M
AM
Department of Diagnostic Neuroradiology, University of Copenhagen, Rigshospitalet, Denmark.
Wagner
A
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000768:Anesthesia, General; D000772:Anesthesia, Local; D015901:Angiography, Digital Subtraction / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001774:Blood Chemical Analysis; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D002406:Catheterization, Peripheral / Q000295:instrumentation; D002533:Cerebral Angiography / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002561:Cerebrovascular Disorders / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D002648:Child; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000145:classification; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D011312:Pressure; D011871:Radiology / Q000193:education; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
D003287:Contrast Media