A Simple Technique for Introducing Lipiodol into the Lungs.

The disadvantage of the first method is the inevitable partial swallowing of the oil and the difficulty of a uniform distribution of the oil througlhout the bronchial tree. The second method as usually porformed requires profound anaesthesia of the laryngo-pharynx and expert laryngological skill. The method we originally adopted at the bronchoscopic cliinic at the Margaret Street I-Jospital for Consumption was that of Dr. Garcia Vicente, which consists of a catheter introduction through the larynx by means of a special forceps for holding and directing the catheter into the larynx. The necessity for profound anaesthesia of the laryngo-pharynx, and the bulkiness of the forceps, which made it especially difficult to use in nervous and young patients, was the reason for our originating this quite simple technique. Reasoning that the natural way to the larynx is through the nose, we tried introducing the catheter along the floor of the nose, and were astonished at the ease and simplicity with which the catheter entered the larynx. The procedure is so simple that no previous experience is necessary.