Retrospective Study of Complications Arising during Cerebral and Spinal Diagnostic Angiography from 1998 to 2003.

SUMMARY: This retrospective study aimed to assess the percentage of complications in the daily practice of cerebral and spinal cord diagnostic angiography at our institution and to compare this with literature reports published in the last twenty years and guidelines for angiography. From 1(st) December 1998 to 1(st) December 2003 2154 patients underwent digital angiography for a total of 5996 vessels selected. Three neurological complications arose during angiographic procedures in the five year period. * Focal neurological deficit resolving within 24h in two patients, * Permanent neurological deficit in one patient. There were no adverse systemic reactions to contrast medium. Retrospective analysis of our cohort disclosed a complication rate of 0.1% for transient neurological complications and 0.05% for permanent deficits.