BARIUM SULFATE BRONCHOGRAPHY IN HORSES

Abstract

Barium sulfate bronchograms were performed on four 454‐kg (1000‐lb), adult, mixedbreed horses. Approximately 100 ml of 100% w/v premixed barium sulfate suspension was insufflated into a caudodorsal portion of one lung. Excellent bronchograms were obtained through six generations of bronchial divisions. Bronchograms of diagnostic quality were present for at least 30 minutes. Radiographs at 24 hours showed that most of the barium had been removed from the lung. At 48 hours, tiny barium nodules were essentially all that remained. One hundred and thirty milliliters of barium sulfate initially resulted in overfilling of the bronchial tree and prolonged retention of the contrast medium. Six weeks after bronchography, histopathologic examination of the perfused fixed lungs of two horses showed a very mild inflammatory response to the barium. One of the four horses received two barium sulfate bronchograms. This horse was observed and found to be free of any side effects for 15 months after the second bronchogram.