Tsuchiyama T, Hayasaka S, Sasaki J, Nakagawa K, Fujino N, Yoshinaga T, Kiyama T, Kinuwaki E, Ohtsuka Y
Department of Pulmonary and Pathology, Kumamoto Chu-oh Hospital, Japan.
Nihon Kyobu Shikkan Gakkai Zasshi. 1995 May;33(5):538-42.
A 65-year-old laborer suffered thoracic injury in an accident. Ribs were fractured and chest X-ray films showed coincidental ground-glass, like opacities in both lung fields. CT indicated the possibility of pulmonary alveolar proteinosis, which was confirmed by histological examination of the specimen obtained during therapeutic bronchoalveolar lavage. A modified fiberoptic bronchoscope with a wedge device was used for segmental bronchoalveolar lavage. The wedge derice on a pediatric flexible fiberoptic bronchosiope allowed irrigation of six independent pulmonary segments, with no complication. Six months after discharge, the patient had no evidence of relapse.
