Spectrum of Complications and Complication Rates After Diagnostic Catheter Angiography in Neuroradiology

Purpose To retrospectively evaluate the total complication rates and type of complications after diagnostic cerebral and spinal catheter angiography. Methods Data from 2340 patients undergoing diagnostic angiography over a period of 10 years in a neuroradiologic center were retrospectively evaluated. Local, systemic, neurological, and technical complications were analyzed. Results A total of 75 clinically noted complications occurred. The risk for clinical complications was increased when the angiography was performed under emergency conditions ( p = 0.009). The most common complication was groin hematoma (1.32%). Neurological complications occurred in 0.68% of patients, of which 0.13% were stroke with permanent disability. Technical complications without noticeable clinical symptoms of the patients occurred in 2.35% of the angiographic procedures. Deaths caused by angiography did not occur. Conclusion There is a definite risk for complications after diagnostic angiography. Although a very broad spectrum of complications was considered, complications in the individual subgroups showed a low incidence.