RESUMEN
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To provide an intact rabbit pneumoconiosis model and a method of lung lavage for studying the pathogenesis and treatment of pneumoconiosis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The dust particles(< or = 5 microns diameter) were poured into the trachea of rabbit by trachea spile. The lung lavage of rabbit was carried out by the improved trachea catheter method.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The rabbit lungs exposed to coal dust showed many black dust spots and there were proliferation of fibroblasts. The rabbit lungs exposed to silica dust showed nodules and several fusing nodules. The X-ray film showed that there were small irregular shadows, or fusing together into flake-like or round shadows in both lungs. The recovery rate of the lung lavage was 89%-94%.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The model made by trachea spile and the method of lung lavage by the improved trachea catheter were simple, safe and without being injured.</p>