A technique for isolated airway segment lavage.

A novel technique has been developed for the isolation and lavaging of a central airway segment in humans. The procedure uses a double-balloon airway-sampling catheter that is placed into the airways with fiberoptic bronchoscopic guidance. A protocol using this technique was attempted in 32 subjects (18 normal subjects and 14 subjects with mild asthma), and 27 of the subjects were able to complete all phases of the protocol, including bronchoalveolar lavage and lavage of an isolated airway segment. There was no significant complication in any subject. Cellular composition of the lavages demonstrated differences in cell differential and total cell counts for the two different sampled regions (central airway vs alveolar spaces). We believe that this technique of lavage of an isolated airway segment is safe and has potential usefulness in many areas of pulmonary research.