Experimental embolization with inflatable and releasable balloons in dogs.

Experimental arterial occlusion was performed on eight dogs by means of inflatable and releasable balloons, in five of which a reliable and long lasting arterial occlusion was obtained. Three accidents occurred. One dog died when the liquid latex was emptied spontaneously from the balloon and the territory was embolized causing a severe general reaction. In two other dogs the emptying of the balloon, inflated with iodine, was followed by distal embolization of the empty latex balloon. The possibility of such accidents would be too great a risk for human application, but it now seems possible with the new glue, isobutyl-2-cyanoacrylate, to embolize vascular territories more accurately and more safely by means of inflatable and releasable balloons.