Risks

Any medical procedure can involve risks. It is first important to understand that a cerebral angiogram is recommended when the risks involved in not undertaking the test (for example, non-diagnosis of a serious disease) outweigh the risks of the procedure.

The overwhelming majority of patients undergoing cerebral angiography do not have a complication. However, if a complication does occur, it can be significant.

Stroke

The main potential complication of cerebral angiography is of having a stroke, with a rate of approximately 0.5% (or 1 in 200 people). This risk varies and is likely lower if you are normally in good health without other disease. A stroke is caused by a blood clot obstructing the normal flow of blood to the brain. The symptoms can involve one or more of the following: weakness of the face, arms, or legs, difficulty with speech, or difficulty with vision. Strokes can also be of variable severity: from brief and barely noticeable to very severe. They can be temporary or result in permanent deficit. The good news is that strokes that result from cerebral angiogram tend to be of lesser severity with good potential for recovery. As strokes tend to occur during, or shortly after the procedure you are also in the best place (under direct medical supervision) if they were to occur.

Bleeding from the access site

The second main risk is of damage to the artery at the access site. It is common to get small amount of bleeding after the procedure and this usually stops spontaneously. If the bleeding is heavier or if there is internal bleeding then this sometimes require treatment, such as an injection of thrombin or even surgical repair. It is very rare for this to be necessary, however. The risk is lower if the wrist (rather than the groin) is used as the access site.

Blockage of the access site artery

Another rare complication is blockage of the artery at the access site, resulting in not enough blood getting to the arm or leg. This condition may require surgery to remedy.