Bronchial embolization using silicone (BEUS) for an intractable pneumothorax and the development of endobronchial Watanabe spigot (EWS)

We developed bronchial embolization using silicone (BEUS) in 1989. BEUS was performed on I I patients, of which there were six cases of intractable pneumothorax, two cases of pyothorax with bronchial Fistula. one case of postoperative bronchial fistula, one case of traumatic pneumothorax with consistent bronchial bleeding, and one case of pyelobronchial fistula. BEUS was performed on nine of the I I patients successfully It is thought that BEUS has the possibility of providing a surer and longer bronchial blockade than conventional methods. Therefore, we developed the endobronchial Watanabe spigot (EWS), made of silicone, in collaboration with NOVATECH. BEUS with EWS was successfully performed on three patients, of which there were two cases of intractable pneumothorax and one case of gall bladder bronchial fistula.