Aneurysm rupture during angiography: does acute vasospasm occur?

Thirty-two cases of rupture of an aneurysm during angiography were reviewed to determine whether there is an immediate, acute phase of intracranial arterial spasm in human beings. Unfortunately, in the 11 instances of major extravasation into the adjacent subarachnoid spaces (the cases most likely to demonstrate arterial spasm), the arteries either were not filled or were obscured by the escaping contrast medium. In 13 patients who demonstrated arterial spasm, the vasospasm definitely (5), probably (6), or possibly (2) was related to a prior episode of bleeding. There was no evidence of arterial spasm in the other eight cases. Therefore there is no definite proof from the present investigation that an acute phase of intracranial arterial spasm occurs following rupture of an aneurysm.