[Cost-effectiveness of and morbidity from digital subtraction angiography. A study of 5,817 cases]

This study was based on 5,817 patients examined by digital subtraction angiography (DSA) between 1984 and 1990. 5,209 patients received an intravenous injection of contrast agent and 608 received an intra-arterial injection. Digital subtraction angiography has become a routine procedure for the diagnosis of vascular disease in the various fields studied, as it provides images of diagnostic quality in 97% of cases: diagnostic quality of 95% after intravenous injection and 99% after intra-arterial injection. The morbidity is 1.65% for the intravenous route and 4.8% for the intra-arterial route. The morbidity of brachial artery catheterization is 5.5% DSA by intravenous injection is a low-risk angiographic technique which represents a major economy in terms of the cost of the examination and the examination time, a reduction of hospital stay and waiting lists; these advantages are very important in the current context of public health.