Cerebral Complications Following Measurements of Regional Cerebral Blood Flow (rCBF) With the Intra-arterial (133)Xenon Injection Method

The rate of complications was studied following measurements of regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) with the intra-arterial (133)Xenon technique. The investigation was based upon reports of rCBF measurements in close to 4,000 patients, carried out at 18 European and American centers. Two fatalities were reported. The overall rate of complication was found to he 1.3% with permanent neurological sequelae in 0.2%. Almost all complications were reported in patients with arterial or intracranial disease. The complication rates found are equal to, or lower than, corresponding rates following cerebral angiography with carotid puncture, Based upon the experiences reported, some factors are enumerated which appear important in order to keep the rate of complication low.