What is a bronchoalveolar lavage used for?
What is a bronchoalveolar lavage used for?
It helps diagnose and treat certain lung diseases. Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) is a procedure that is sometimes done during a bronchoscopy. It is also called bronchoalveolar washing. BAL is used to collect a sample from the lungs for testing.
What are BAL cells?
BAL fluid cell patterns reflect inflammatory cell profiles in affected lung tissues [1] and provide important information that can support the diagnosis of specific ILD [2,3], or exclude other causes of alveolitis.
Why would a doctor order a bronchoscopy?
Common reasons for needing bronchoscopy are a persistent cough, infection or something unusual seen on a chest X-ray or other test. Bronchoscopy can also be used to obtain samples of mucus or tissue, to remove foreign bodies or other blockages from the airways or lungs, or to provide treatment for lung problems.
How do you get a BAL sample?
A BAL sample is obtained by wedging a bronchoscope or catheter into a bronchus and isolating the distal airway. A volume of saline is instilled and the fluid aspirated back from the airway, using gentle suction.
What is the cytology of Bronchoalveolar lavage ( BAL )?
Interpretation of BALF cytology Preface Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) explores large areas of the alveolar compartment providing cells as well as non-cellular constituents from the lower respiratory tract. It opens a window to the lung. Alterations in BAL fluid and cells reflect pathological changes in the lung parenchyma. The BAL
Can a bronchoalveolar lavage be used for ILD?
Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) can play a significant role in making an accurate and confident diagnosis of specific forms of ILD.
How is Bal used to diagnose acute respiratory failure?
BAL is now routinely used as a tool to diagnose respiratory infections, evaluate patients with acute respiratory failure or evidence of diffuse parenchymal lung diseases, and monitor the status of transplanted lung allografts [ 7 ]. Despite the widespread use of BAL by pulmonologists, BAL cellular analysis,…
How is Bal used to treat interstitial lung disease?
When BAL was initially developed as a tool to sample respiratory secretions in animal models of lung disease and subsequently adapted as a clinical tool to study interstitial lung disease (ILD), it was perceived as holding considerable promise for the diagnosis and management of various forms of ILD, such as sarcoidosis,…