Reaction Following Bronchography With Iodized Oil

Severe or fatal reactions are relatively rare following instillation of iodized oil into the tracheobronchial tree. Information is furnished 1 that the Army Institute of Pathology has on file the protocol of only 1 case that might possibly be a fatal lipiodol reaction after intrabronchial instillation, and that case is the one reported herein. It is estimated 2 that about 300 bronchograms, representing some 200 individual patients, are performed yearly in the Section on Roentgenology of the Mayo Clinic. Nevertheless, according to Good, there has never been a fatal accident following bronchography in the memory of any one, including myself, who has worked in this field at the clinic. Patients at the Mayo Clinic are not tested for iodine sensitivity prior to lipiodol bronchography unless they give a history of sensitivity to iodine. Among those patients who are sensitive to iodine, about six mild reactions occur each year, but all