Serial bronchoalveolar lavage as barium aspiration treatment. Case report

We present the case of a newborn with respiratory aspiration of barium and the management of this complication by serial bronchoalveolar lavage through bronchoscopy.

Female newborn, who underwent barium esophagogram for suspected esophageal atresia, who presented subsequent torpid evolution and radiological changes with persistent radiopaque image, metal density in the left apical and right basal region. Three bronchoalveolar lavages were performed with a decrease in the radiopacity generated by the contrast medium and clinical improvement.

Barium aspiration is a possible complication of digestive tract imaging studies and there is no specific management. In our patient, we found a possible benefit from performing serial bronchoalveolar lavages.