Complications of cerebral angiography: prospective assessment of risk

Authors:
  • FEF Earnest
    F Earnest
  • GFG Forbes
    G Forbes
  • BSBa Sandok
    Ba Sandok
  • DPDg Piepgras
    Dg Piepgras
  • RFRj Faust
    Rj Faust
  • DIDm Ilstrup
    Dm Ilstrup
  • LALj Arndt
    Lj Arndt
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Abstract
A prospective study of 1,517 consecutive cerebral angiographic examinations is reported. The incidence of all complications was 8.5%, and the incidence of all neurologic complications was 2.6%. The overall incidence of permanent neurologic deficit was 0.33%. The incidence of permanent neurologic deficit in patients referred for evaluation of symptomatic cerebrovascular disease was 0.63%. Older age, increased serum creatinine concentration, and the use of more than one catheter all were significantly associated with serious neurologic complications. Although patients with a recent stroke or frequent transient ischemic attacks had a higher incidence of serious neurologic complications, this increase was not statistically significant for this sample.