Management of cerebrovascular accidents during cardiac catheterization

Abstract

Ischemic cerebrovascular events are a rare complication of cardiac catheterization. Consequently a unique standard of management for these events is yet to be defined. Immediate cerebral angiography followed by local thrombolysis is an effective strategy and we report six cases for which this approach was successfully employed. In contrast the use of immediate neuroimaging by means of MRI or CT scan in two cases delayed the implementation of appropriate therapy.