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Updated: Aug 29, 2026
Bronchoalveolar Lavage BAL for Research; Obtaining Adequate Sample Yield
Published on: March 24, 2014
One-session bilateral sequential whole lung lavage (OSBSWLL) for the management of pulmonary alveolar proteinosis
Javier Diaz-Mendoza1,2, Eduardo Celis Valdiviezo3,4, Niral M Patel5
1Interventional Pulmonology, Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Henry Ford Hospital, K-17, 2799 W Grand Blvd, Detroit, MI, 48202, USA. Jdiaz1@hfhs.org.
Background:
Whole Lung Lavage (WLL) has been an important part in the management of Pulmonary Alveolar Proteinosis (PAP) since it improves radiologic and clinical parameters. Bilateral WLL is usually performed in two sessions on different days. Few case reports have described one-session bilateral sequential lung lavage (OSBSWLL), and none have described ambulatory management (same-day discharge).
Methods:
Demographic characteristics, physiologic parameters, procedure details and outcomes were retrospectively collected on consecutive patients who underwent OSBSWLL for PAP following an ambulatory protocol stablished in our institution.
Results:
A total of 13 patients underwent 30 OSBSWLL (61.5% male; mean age 40). The mean SpO2 was 90% (IQR 9) and 94% (IQR 6), before and after OSBSWLL respectively. In 63.3% of cases, patients were discharged home the same day of procedure. Only in two cases (6.6%), patients required post-procedure prolonged mechanical ventilation (> 4 h) due to persistent hypoxia.
Conclusions:
OSBSWLL can be performed with same-day discharge.
