title: Therapeutic whole lung lavage for inhaled plutonium oxide revisited.
abstract: Two reviews in the last 12 years have differed widely in their indications for the use of whole lung lavage (WLL) to remove plutonium from the lung, one recommending its use at relatively low radiation doses to prevent stochastic effects and the other recommending restricting its use to high doses to prevent deterministic effects only. Since the publication of these reviews significant data have accumulated demonstrating the increased safety of WLL, and there are additional data on stochastic and deterministic effects. We discuss deterministic and stochastic risks and the practical aspects of undertaking WLL. We recommend that each case be assessed individually.
authors.affiliation: Anaesthesia and Critical Care Medicine, Royal Brompton Hospital, Sydney Street, London, UK.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Morgan
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bingham
authors.forename: D C B
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Holt
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: N J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Lewis
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018893:Bronchoalveolar Lavage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D019570:Inhalation Exposure; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D011005:Plutonium / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D011649:Pulmonary Alveolar Proteinosis / Q000628:therapy; D011874:Radiometry
chemical_list: D011005:Plutonium