Intra-arterial digital subtraction angiography [IA-DSA] in the evaluation of cerebrovascular disease

ABSTRACT

The author examined 40 patients with intraarterlal digital subtraction angiography [IA-DSA] via the femoral approach [Seven patients] and flush aortic arch study [DSA-AA] to investigate extracranial carotid occlusive disease, the rest had selective common carotid injection [DSA-SC] to evaluate cerebro-vascular disease. Arch injection [DSA-AA] was successful in 86% of cases, while setectlve catheterlzation of the common carotid artery [DSA-SC] was possible in 94% of patients with successful delineation of both extra and intracranlal vessels. Superior Images with excellent vessel opacification, free of movement artefact and superimpositlon were possible with DSA-SC and to a lesser extent with DSA-AA. The iodine/load per case was markedly low averaging 5.25 gm for DSA-SC and 10.5 gm for DSA-AA. A considerable improvement in the diagnostic value, and reduction in the procedure time and iodine load was achieved when IA-DSA techniques were used