Bronchoalveolar lavage via a modified stomach tube in intubated patients with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome and diffuse pneumonia

Comparison of bronchoscopic bronchoalveolar lavage vs blind lavage with a modified nasogastric tube in the etiologic diagnosis of ventilator-associated pneumonia

OBJECTIVE

Our objective was to compare the results of a blind lavage vs a bronchoscopic-guided bronchoalveolar lavage for the etiologic diagnosis of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP).

DESIGN

Prospective study in consecutive patients with high probability of VAP. Every patient underwent both procedures, in a formally randomized fashion. The interpretation of quantitative cultures was done in a blind fashion.

SETTING

Single center study, with a 20 bed medical and surgical Intensive Care Unit of the University Hospital in Monterrey, Mexico.

PATIENTS

Twenty-five patients with high probability of VAP.

INTERVENTIONS

Every patient underwent blind bronchoalveolar lavage with a modified nasogastric tube, and a bronchoscopic-guided bronchoalveolar lavage.

RESULTS

Twenty-one patients underwent both procedures. Four patients were excluded due to contamination of the cultures. The quantitative cultures were compared in a paired fashion. Only two patients had discordant cultures. The correlation coefficient between the number of colonies was very high, r=0.90 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.77-0.96; p=0.0001).

CONCLUSIONS

The blind bronchoalveolar lavage with a modified nasogastric tube is a valuable tool for the identification of etiologic agent in VAP, particularly when trained bronchoscopists or the necessary resources for bronchoscopic-guided bronchoalveolar lavage are not readily available.

A simple method of reducing complications of pediatric nonbronchoscopic bronchoalveolar lavage

Our objective was to determine whether a simple method of maintaining positive pressure ventilation during nonbronchoscopic bronchoalveolar lavage (NB-BAL) would successfully reduce the incidence and/or severity of desaturation events. Our design was a clinical trial with historical controls. Seventy ventilated pediatric patients undergoing diagnostic NB-BAL participated. Two NB-BAL techniques were compared: 1) the "unsealed" method, where the suction catheter was passed through an open system, maintaining oxygenation but not airway pressure; and 2) the "sealed" technique, which was identical except that the catheter was passed through a diaphragm, maintaining positive pressure ventilation throughout. NB-BAL was performed on 35 patients using the "unsealed" technique and 2 years later on 35 patients using the "sealed" method. Heart rate and oxyhemoglobin saturation (SaO(2)) were recorded before, during, and after NB-BAL. There was no difference between groups with regard to demographic data, oxygenation, or ventilatory requirements (P >or= 0.1). The "sealed" group experienced a median drop in SaO(2) of 6.0% (range, -6% to 44%), and the "unsealed" group a drop of 13.0% (-2% to 61%), during NB-BAL (P < 0.05). Patients with oxygenation index greater than 10 experienced the most severe desaturation events in both groups: 53.8% of patients in the "sealed" group with oxygenation index >10 desaturated to <80% vs. 91.6% in the "unsealed" group (P < 0.05). In conclusion, we describe a simple, inexpensive modification of the NB-BAL technique that reduces the incidence and severity of desaturation during NB-BAL.

Comparison of Ballard catheter bronchoalveolar lavage with bronchoscopic bronchoalveolar lavage

BACKGROUND

Bronchoscopic bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) in mechanically ventilated patients requires a large endotracheal tube, physician expertise, expensive equipment, and support staff.

METHODS

The Ballard BAL catheter is a disposable coude tip 16F device that can be attached to the endotracheal tube and ventilator circuit without loss of positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) and also allows supplemental delivery of oxygen between the 12F inner and outer catheters. The catheter is directed into the selected bronchus. The inner catheter with mushroom tip is then advanced until it wedges by feel. Thirteen patients at a tertiary care, university hospital, had BAL performed through both the bronchoscope and Ballard BAL catheter using five aliquots of 20 mL of normal saline solution each. The return was quantified and submitted for blinded, paired laboratory investigations, including Gram stain and quantitative culture, and special stains and cultures as clinically appropriate.

RESULTS

The procedure was well tolerated in all patients with no difference between devices in oxygen saturations; however, air leaks occurred in patients undergoing bronchoscopy and compromised safety in one. Two patients required reintubation to facilitate passage of the bronchoscope. The bronchoscopic BAL return averaged 49 mL (range, 5 to 85 mL) while BAL catheter averaged 37 mL (range, 18 to 70 mL) both being sufficient for all desired investigations except one patient who had undergone bronchoscopy. All were of excellent quality based on microscopy. The BAL results were concordant in nine patients: two Pneumocystis carinii, one Candida, one Streptococcus agalactiae, one Streptococcus pneumoniae, and no infection in four. Diagnoses of tuberculosis and Enterococcus (confirmed by blood culture) were obtained by the Ballard BAL catheter only. Kaposi's sarcoma and metastatic histiosarcoma were visualized by bronchoscope only. Two patients had compassionate plea use of the Ballard BAL catheter because of a small endotracheal tube. Hemorrhage secondary to lupus was documented in one and nosocomial infection was excluded in the other.

CONCLUSIONS

The Ballard BAL catheter allows easy, safe BAL, without loss of diagnostic yield, when visualization is not required in mechanically ventilated patients. The Ballard BAL catheter allows maintenance of PEEP when used with the supplied adapter and can be used with small endotracheal tubes.