[Bronchoalveolar lavage as a diagnostic method in intensive therapy].

Bronchoalveolar lavage is presented as a standardised diagnostic method in the clarification of interstitial pulmonary changes in the acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Its justification is based on the fact that changes in lung biopsies are reflected by early changes in the composition of the rinse and in the ability of the cellular components to function properly, independent of the origin of the immunological processes in ARDS. Pulmonary function is not adversely affected by the procedure provided it is carried out "lege artis". We hope that it will be possible in future to achieve early detection of a developing progressive failure of pulmonary function, by employing early markers. The procedure also allows continual follow-up of the success of an initiated therapy.