[Cerebral complications of cervical angiography (frequency, clinical manifestations, preventive measures and...

The authors carried out angiographic examinations in 327 patients with tumours in the cervical region and 11 of these (3.36%) demonstrated complications, toxico-allergic ones in 10 and thromboembolism of the cerebral vessels--in one case. Toxico-allergic reactions and dynamic disturbances of the cerebral circulation developed more often in contrasting 2 or more brachycephalic vessels, with a two-fold introduction of the contrast medium into one and the same vascular basin and also in cases of a quick injection of a relatively large amount of the compound into the vertebral artery. Thromboembolism of the cerebral vessels was, apparently, caused by a small clot of blood which occluded an atherosclerotically altered internal carotid artery at the site of its bifurcation. Clinical manifestations of the said complications and a number of preventive and curative measures in case of cerebral complications arising during cervical angiography are considered in detail.