Risks and complications of nonbronchoscopic bronchoalveolar lavage in a pediatric intensive care unit

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Abstract
This paper aims to document the risks and complications of nonbronchoscopic bronchoalveolar lavage (NB‐BAL) in 35 mechanically ventilated patients with diffuse severe pneumonia in a single pediatric intensive care unit. A prospective collection of data on patients' ventilatory settings and oxygen requirements before NB‐BAL, and oxyhemoglobin saturations and heart rate readings before, during, and after the procedure were taken on each patient.The major complication of NB‐BAL was arterial desaturation, which was more severe and prolonged in patients with poor oxygenation indices and PaO2/FiO2 ratios. The diagnostic yield of the procedure was high at 69%. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2001; 32:378–384.