[Alveolo-capillary permeability following multiple trauma--monitoring by bronchoalveolar lavage]

In trauma patients (ISS greater than 40 points) bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) as well as the first clinical measurements was performed within the first 6 hours after admission to hospital. Thereafter BAL was carried out once per day, using 100 ml NaCl 0.9% (10 x 10 ml). BAL-protein-concentrations (i.e. albumin) were converted to epithelial lining fluid (ELF) according to Rennard, using urea as an internal standard. The limitations of this method were taken into account. The alveolo-capillary permeability (ACP) was described by the quotient of the protein concentrations in ELF and plasma. Progressive lung failure (ARDS) was defined using the criteria given by Murray. Lung contusion was an exclusion criteria. The study period was 14 days. This study evaluated data from 12 patients (m: 10, f: 2; age 30.4 (17-52); ISS 63.4). Five patients developed a progressive lung failure ("+ARDS"--age 32.2; ISS 71.5), 7 patient suffered no pulmonary failure during intensive care ("-ARDS")--age 29.5; ISS 59.2). No patient died in the course of the study. An increased ACP for albumin (combined endothelial-epithelial disturbance) was detectable for both +ARDS- und -ARDS-patients after the 6th hour, reaching a maximum around the 24th hour. +ARDS-patients showed a significant higher ACP. Further, beginning from the 48th hour to the 4th day, the ACP value for -ARDS-patients again dropped to a physiologic range. The degree of the increased ACP depends on the size of the marker protein, but it is independent of pulmonary hemodynamics. It is of value for the prediction of ARDS within 24 hours and for monitoring of pulmonary damage in posttraumatic course.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)