Risk-decreasing factors in the angiographic examination of intracranial haemorrhage.

The neuroradiological examination in patients with clinical symptoms of intracranial bleeding is indicated in a high percentage of cases, especially since large series of CT examinations have proven that in many cases the false clinical diagnosis of cerebrovascular accident is made with patients actually bleeding out of arterial lesions. In a large number of cases angiography will be necessary in addition to CT examination. Naturally the complications which may occur with these angiographic procedures should be avoided as much as possible. Measures to minimalize the haemodynamic effect of catheterization or puncture and the following contrast injection in the brachiocephalic vessels are discussed. The application of metrizamide as a contrast medium with these angiographic analyses is explained.