Water-soluble contrast medium for bronchography.

WITH THE increased use of segmental and wedge resection in the management of surgical disorders of the lungs and bronchi bronchography has increased in importance and in frequency of application as a diagnostic procedure for the accurate localization of diseased bronchopulmonary tissue. The experiences of the last 25 years with the iodized oils routinely used for bronchography have given rise to several valid objections to these mediums. The objections chiefly center about the slow disappearance of these substances from the lungs, with lesser objections to certain of their physical and chemical characteristics. The persistence of the radiopaque organic iodides frequently obscures or confuses subsequent roentgenograms for long periods. The persistence of the oily vehicle is a definite hazard to the patient, for it has irritative qualities which occasionally lead to chronic lipoid pneumonia or to oil granuloma. The presence of the oil also decreases pulmonary function and increases the frequency