Bronchoscopic location of bronchopleural fistula with xenon-133.

Successful application of the technique of transbronchoscopic endobronchial occlusion of a persistent bronchopleural fistula requires an accurate determination of the segmental location of the air leak. This was achieved by injections of small boluses of Xe-133 into a number of segmental bronchi through a fiber-optic bronchoscope. Following the instillation of Xe-133 into the segmental bronchus leading to the fistula, there was a marked increase in radioactivity in the intercostal drainage tube.