[Complications of brachiocephalic catheter angiography using a non-ionic contrast medium]

In 713 patients 749 catheter-arteriographies of aortic-arch and cerebral vessels were performed using non-ionic contrast media. The patients were examined either with DSA or conventional film techniques. In 80 examinations of 76 patients complications or side-effects were noted, which resolved completely within one hour in 69 cases, showed a duration up to 7 days in 6 cases, and persisted longer than 7 days in 5 patients. Neurological complications were seen in 6.4% of the studies. There was no death. Patients, who received anti-hypertensive drugs before or during angiography and patients with a pathological angiogram had a significantly higher complication-rate. The rising number of patients with atherosclerotic cerebrovascular disease showed an unfavorable effect upon the overall complication-rate. The use of a non-ionic contrast medium did not drastically lower the rate of neurological complications.