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Original Research
Paediatric nonbronchoscopic bronchoalveolar lavage overview and recommendations for clinical practice
Submitted: 08 January 2006 | Published: 08 January 2006
About the author(s)
B. M. Morrow, Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital, Physiotherapy Department and Division of Associated Paediatric Disciplines, School of Child and Adolescent Health, University of Cape Town. Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital, Paediatric Intensive Care Unit and Division of Critical Care and Children’s Heart Disease, School of Child and Adolescent Health, University of Cape Town.M. J. Futter, Division of Human Genetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town., South Africa
A. C. Argent, Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital, Paediatric Intensive Care Unit and Division of Critical Care and Children’s Heart Disease, School of Child and Adolescent Health, University of Cape Town, South Africa
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NB-BAL is an effective procedure for the diagnosis of pulmonary disease processes in ventilated infants and children. This procedure is, however, not without risks to both patients and staff. Numerous complications of NB-BAL exist, with hypoxia being themost common. As a result, care should be taken in performing NB-BAL on haemodynamically unstable patients; patients with coagulation defects; and patients with cardiac or brain abnormalities.This paper presents an overview of paediatric nonbronchoscopic bronchoalveolar lavage (NB-BAL) including: the rationale for NB-BAL; the complications associated with the procedure; indications and contraindications. It also recommends an evidence-basedclinical guideline for performing the procedure in the paediatric intensive care unit. By following the NB-BAL guidelines presented in this paper, one can ensure that an effective specimen is obtained from the lower respiratory tract, whilst minimising the risk to the patient.
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