Bronchopulmonary lavage in normal subjects and patients with obstructive lung disease.

Abstract

Article1 April 1967Bronchopulmonary Lavage in Normal Subjects and Patients with Obstructive Lung DiseaseT. N. FINLEY, M.D., E. W. SWENSON, M.D., W. S. CURRAN, M.D., G. L. HUBER, M.D., A. J. LADMAN, PH.D.T. N. FINLEY, M.D.Search for more papers by this author, E. W. SWENSON, M.D.Search for more papers by this author, W. S. CURRAN, M.D.Search for more papers by this author, G. L. HUBER, M.D.Search for more papers by this author, A. J. LADMAN, PH.D.Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-66-4-651 SectionsAboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail ExcerptEndobronchial lavage for the diagnosis and treatment of alveolar proteinosis has been used with apparent success (1, 2). Ramirez-R., Kieffer, and Ball (1) have suggested that endobronchial lavage might be useful in any condition where there is an "abnormal accumulation of material in bronchioles and alveoli," such as alveolar microlithiasis,Pneumocystis cariniipneumonia, hyaline membrane disease, chemical pneumonias, certain types of viral pneumonias, unremittent bronchial asthma, and bronchiolectasis. A controversy (3, 4), however, has arisen over the possibility of damage to normal lung tissue by saline introduced in this fashion. Several studies (5, 6) reported nolong-termadverse effect of...