Abstract
Broncho-alveolar lavage (BAL) adds relevant information in the diagnosis of various clinical entities. The diagnostic utility of BAL is dependent on an acceptable recovery rate ≧30%. At present, the factors that determine good recovery are not well established, with conflicting results.
We aimed to explore the factors potentially associated with BAL recovery rate (RR) in a Bronchology department of a Central Hospital. We designed a prospective observational cohort study including patients in whom BAL was performed from January to June 2021. Forty-eight patients agreed to participate. They had a median age of 63 years (IQR=18); most were male (77,1%; n=37). Current or past smoking habits related to a lower RR (p=0,046). Perception of good patient tolerance during the procedure by the operator showed significantly higher RR when compared to reasonable or poor tolerance (p<0,001). Patients who reported cough in the previous 4 weeks had a significantly lower RR (p=0,033). Analyzing the diagnoses assumed after obtaining the BAL result, we observed that patients diagnosed with respiratory infection had a significantly lower RR (p=0,028) and patients with a diagnosis of interstitial lung disease had a significantly higher RR (p=0,037). It was also observed that the higher the FEV1 (%) the higher the BAL recovery percentage (p=0,047). No correlations were observed between retrieval rate and FVC or DLCO.
Identifying predictive factors of good BAL recovery could help select patients who benefit most from this minimally invasive technique. Poor exam tolerance, including poorly controlled symptoms, like cough, may be predictive of poorer BAL recovery rates. Different diagnoses also seem to influence the profitability of BAL.
Footnotes
Cite this article as Eur Respir J 2022; 60: Suppl. 66, 4055.
This article was presented at the 2022 ERS International Congress, in session “-”.
This is an ERS International Congress abstract. No full-text version is available. Further material to accompany this abstract may be available at www.ers-education.org (ERS member access only).
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