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Updated: Oct 3, 2026

Bronchoalveolar Lavage (BAL) for Research; Obtaining Adequate Sample Yield
Published on: March 24, 2014
Risks and complications of nonbronchoscopic bronchoalveolar lavage in a pediatric intensive care unit
1Physiotherapy Department, Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa. rxhphysi@pawc.wcape.gov.za
Abstract:
This paper aims to document the risks and complications of nonbronchoscopic bronchoalveolar lavage (NB-BAL) in 35 mechanically ventilated patients with diffuse severe pneumonia in a single pediatric intensive care unit. A prospective collection of data on patients' ventilatory settings and oxygen requirements before NB-BAL, and oxyhemoglobin saturations and heart rate readings before, during, and after the procedure were taken on each patient. The major complication of NB-BAL was arterial desaturation, which was more severe and prolonged in patients with poor oxygenation indices and PaO(2)/FiO(2) ratios. The diagnostic yield of the procedure was high at 69%.
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