The effect of angiography on the electrophysiological state of the spinal cord. A study in control and traumatized cats.

The tonic vibration reflex (TVR) and evoked cerebral potential (ECP) were used to evaluate the effects of aortic injections of Renografin- 76, saline, and a mixture of sodium and sucrose on the spinal cord in 7 control cats and 12 which were recovering from trauma. Results showed that Renografin-76 produced different toxic effects in control and traumatized spinal cords as measured by the TVR. The disappearance of either ECP or TVR following the Renografin injection in 4 cases exemplifies the enhanced risk of injecting angiographic materials into traumatized spinal cords during recovery.