title: Bilateral whole lung lavage in pulmonary alveolar proteinosis--a retrospective study.
abstract: Whole lung lavage (WLL) is the gold standard technique for the treatment of Pulmonary Alveolar Proteinosis (PAP). In this paper we evaluated and discuss bilateral WLL, namely the procedure work-up and the therapeutic efficacy. Six bilateral WLL performed through a careful adherence to a modified Royal Brompton Hospital (London) technique were carried out without major complications and were associated with clinical and functional improvement of the PAP patients submitted to this procedure. As there are benefits in terms of time, patient comfort and cost effectiveness compared to unilateral WLL, associated with the efficacy and safety observed, bilateral WLL seems to be a suitable first choice for therapeutic lavage in PAP patients.
authors.affiliation: Medical Resident in Anesthesiology, Centro Hospitalar São João, Porto, Portugal. Electronic address: acaciomsilva@gmail.com.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.affiliation: Medical Resident in Anesthesiology, Centro Hospitalar São João, Porto, Portugal. Electronic address: anamoreto@gmail.com.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Moreto
authors.affiliation: Medical Resident in Anesthesiology, Centro Hospitalar São João, Porto, Portugal. Electronic address: xanavp@gmail.com.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pinho
authors.affiliation: Consultant in Pneumology, Centro Hospitalar São João, Porto, Portugal. Electronic address: adrimagalhaes08@gmail.com.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Magalhães
authors.affiliation: Medical Assistent in Pneumology, Centro Hospitalar São João, Porto, Portugal. Electronic address: antonio.moraisrpp@gmail.com.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Morais
authors.affiliation: Consultant in Anesthesiology, Centro Hospitalar São João, Porto, Portugal. Electronic address: fiuza.carlos@gmail.com.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fiuza
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D018893:Bronchoalveolar Lavage / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011649:Pulmonary Alveolar Proteinosis / Q000628:therapy*; D012189:Retrospective Studies
keywords: Bilateral; Lavagem Pulmonar Total; Proteinose Alveolar Pulmonar; Pulmonary alveolar proteinosis; Whole lung lavage