Acute posterior cerebral circulation syndrome accompanied by serious cardiac rhythm disturbances: A rare but reversible complication following bypassgraft angiography

Cerebral events are recognized, although infrequent, complications of cardi ac catheterization, We report on an exceptional case of a posterior cerebra l circulation syndrome comprising a confusional state, amnestic disturbance s, aphasia, and cortical blindness, accompanied by life-threatening cardiac arrhythmia after left and right internal mammary artery graft angiography, with complete recovery over 5 days. The diagnostic potential of computed t omography, magnetic resonance, and SPECT imaging of the brain in diagnosing this rare but important complication is illustrated. The need for early co ntinuous monitoring of patients with clinically important cerebrovascular e vents postangiography is emphasized. Cathet. Cardiovasc. Intervent, 48:397- 401, 1999. (C) 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.