Transient global amnesia and cortical blindness after vertebral angiography: further evidence for the role of arterial spasm

Alan Jackson, G Stewart, A Wood, J E Gillespie

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

We describe a series of six patients who experienced severe retrograde amnesia (five cases) or cortical blindness (one case) during selective vertebral angiography. All angiograms were obtained with the same nonionic contrast medium. Analysis of the contrast batch demonstrated no abnormalities, but investigation of the angiographic suite revealed a faulty contrast warming cabinet resulting in injection of contrast material above body temperature. The warming cabinet was withdrawn, and the complication has not recurred. We believe that these symptoms reflect ischemia caused by vertebral arterial spasm.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)955-9
Number of pages5
JournalAmerican Journal of Neuroradiology
Volume16
Issue number4
Publication statusPublished - Apr 1995

Keywords

  • Adult
  • Amnesia, Retrograde
  • Blindness
  • Cerebral Angiography
  • Cerebral Cortex
  • Equipment Failure
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Iatrogenic Disease
  • Iohexol
  • Ischemic Attack, Transient
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Temperature
  • Case Reports
  • Journal Article

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