Embolization of bronchial and systemic arteries is a method of choice in treatment of pulmonary hemorrhages in patients with existing contraindications to surgical therapy. Embolization was carried out in 57 patients with pulmonary hemorrhages in the course of pulmonary tuberculosis, mycetomas, bronchiectases, malignancy, vessel malformations and post-traumatic changes. In all patients it terminated hemorrhages. During the 5 year follow-up period recurrencies were seen in 14% of the patients warranting additional embolization.

Powdered diatrizoic acid as a contrast medium administered by inhalation and insufflation for visualization of the airways was tested in vitro and in 21 dogs. Good radiopacity of the contrast medium and its antibacterial activity was found in vitro. In the majority of animal experiments visualization of the bronchial tree down to segmental and partially to subsegmental bronchi with only minimal agglomeration of contrast medium and with good or very good demonstration of anatomic details was achieved. In the majority of dogs contrast medium was eliminated from the lungs within 18 hours. Arterial blood gases tested on 5 dogs showed only unimportant changes after contrast medium administration. No adverse reactions were observed. Histologic and ultrastructural examinations after contrast studies showed phagocytic reaction to diatrizoic acid, transient impairment of production of surfactant, reactive changes of bronchial mucosa, and no fibrotic changes in the long-term observation.

The diagnostic and clinical value of 41 examinations using insufflation and/or inhalation of powdered diatrizoic acid for tracheobronchography, tracheography, laryngography, nasopharyngography, and sinusography was investigated in 35 patients. Diatrizoic acid was found to be useful when applied by insufflation for demonstration of the nasopharynx, trachea and greater bronchi, especially in patients with airway stenosis and low pulmonary reserve. Double contrast images were obtained with good demonstration of anatomic details and adequate diagnostic value. Visualization of the peripheral bronchi by insufflation was satisfactory only when excessive secretions were not present. The inhalation method was adequate only for visualization of the trachea and main bronchi. The method was found to be safe since diatrizoic acid produced no toxic, allergic or febrile reactions and was given in relatively small amounts without impairment of respiratory function.