Unusual Local Complication of Percutaneous Cerebral Angiography

Abstract

In the past few years the medical literature has been flooded with articles concerning cerebral angiography, but we could find no report of a local complication similar to the one presented herein. Among the many local complications that have been described are cervical hematoma, irritation of cervical soft tissues, temporary paralysis of the vagus, transitory punctate hemorrhages in the face, neck or eyes, cervical radiculitis, irritation and paralysis of cervical sympathetic nerves, I external swelling, slight displacement of the trachea, tenderness at the puncture site and pain in moving the head and swallowing, and swelling and bruising of the mucous membrane of the pharynx? None of these is directly related to an artery or could lead to difficulties in diagnosis. In the following case the intima of the common carotid artery was injured by the needle during percutaneous angiography with the result that our clinica! diagnosis was wrongly influenced and proper treatment of the lesion was not done.