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Bronchoalveolar Lavage (BAL) for Research; Obtaining Adequate Sample Yield
11:47

Bronchoalveolar Lavage (BAL) for Research; Obtaining Adequate Sample Yield

Published on: March 24, 2014

Prospective study of fever after bronchoalveolar lavage in children

T Hemmers1, T Nüsslein, N Teig

  • 1Klinik für Kinder- und Jugendmedizin, St. Josef Hospital, Ruhr-Universität Bochum.

Klinische Padiatrie
|March 1, 2006
PubMed

Insights

Fever after pediatric flexible bronchoscopy is common, often linked to positive bronchoalveolar lavage fluid cultures and high neutrophil counts. Bacteraemia is rare in these cases.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Pulmonology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Critical Care Medicine

Background:

  • Fever is a potential complication following flexible bronchoscopy with bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) in children.
  • Understanding the factors contributing to post-bronchoscopy fever is crucial for patient management.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the relationship between bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) characteristics, bacterial pathogens, and fever development in children post-bronchoscopy.
  • To identify risk factors for fever after BAL in pediatric patients.

Main Methods:

  • A study of 41 pediatric patients (4 months to 15 years) undergoing BAL with 24-hour temperature monitoring.
  • Analysis included BALF cell counts, differentials, microbial cultures, oropharyngeal swabs, and blood cultures.

Main Results:

  • Post-bronchoscopy fever was significantly associated with positive BALF cultures (p=0.04).
  • Higher total cell counts (p=0.03) and neutrophil concentrations (p=0.001) in BALF were observed in children with positive bacterial cultures.
  • Seven patients experienced fever, with positive BALF cultures; only one had concurrent bacteraemia.

Conclusions:

  • Fever is a frequent adverse event after BAL in children, rarely linked to bacteraemia.
  • Positive bacterial cultures in BALF and elevated neutrophil counts are associated with an increased risk of developing fever.
Abstract

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