Aneurysmal re-rupture during selective cerebral angiography.

Two cases of aneurysmal re-rupture during intracranial angiography are presented. This event is accompanied by disastrous consequences with regard to the clinical condition of the patient, as is evident from the cases presented as well as from the literature. Acute alterations of intraluminal pressure as well as a time interval of less than 6 h seems to increase the risk of re-bleeding during angiography. The introduction of and the growing experience with CT and MR angiography may in the near future provide sufficient diagnostic information for surgical planning and thus help to overcome the risk of aneurysmal re-rupture during intra-arterial angiography.