Carotid angiography in Nigeria: a review

Five hundred and seventy-five patients subjected to carotid cerebral angiography at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu, over a period of five years are presented. The commonest indication for the study consisted of clinical suspicions of tumour, trauma and vascular problems. In cases of subacute or late sequelae of head trauma, cerebral angiography prove to be an important neuro-investigative tool especially in institutions where CT scan is not available. Despite the invasive nature of cerebral angiography, the low incidence of side effects encountered in this procedure, the ease of the technique and the general non-availability of the more advanced non-invasive neuro-diagnostic aids and the relative low cost implications are strong enough factors and reasons which have encouraged us to advocate the use of the technique in developing countries. Nevertheless, because the reported complications are mostly related to the expertise of the investigator the occasional investigator must be discouraged.