Whole Lung Lavage under General Anesthesia in A Child with Pulmonary Alveolar Proteinosis (A Case Report)

Pulmonary alveolar proteinosis (PAP) is a rare disease in which surfactant accumulates abnormally in the pulmonary alveolar walls and causes respiratory symptoms. The only known effective treatment for PAP is pulmonary lavage. We have reported an 11year-old girl with pulmonary alveolar proteinosis who underwent pulmonary lavage with normal saline under general anesthesia by a new method (using an univent tube for pulmonary blockage, ventilating one lung, and concurrently passing a catheter from out of the tube for lavage). The general condition and vital signs of the patient were normal during lavage and in follow up. Three weeks later, her opposite lung was lavaged too. The results were favorable. (Tanaffos 2004; 3(9): 61-67)