Multiple Bronchoalveolar Lavages in a Patient with Acute Progressive Pulmonary Alveolar Proteinosis: A case report / 대한마취과학회지

ABSTRACT

We had performed six times (4 in right lung, 2 in left lung) bronchoalveolar lavages in a patient who has hypertension and suffered cerebral vascular accident previously. The diagnosis of PAP was confirmed by an open lung biopsy and multiple bronchoalveolar lavages were done for two and a half months. Even though she showed slight improvement in chest radiographs, she showed minimal improvement in her clinical course until the third lavage was done. She had to receive tracheostomy and prolonged ventilatory care because her PAP was progressed rapidly and complicated with superinfection. In addition, she sustained pneumothorax as a complication of the prolonged ventilatory care and the lavages. She was discharged one month after the last lavage and her clinical course has been uneventful 10 months thereafter.