Abstract: Pulmonary surfactant is a complex material, composed of lipids and proteins which lines the alveolar surface of the lungs. Pulmonary alveolar proteinosis (PAP) is a rare disease, characterised by alveolar accumulation of surfactant, due to defective surfactant clearance by alveolar macrophages. Whole-lung lavage is a large-volume fluid washout of the lungs that is performed for the treatment of PAP.
Traditionally, sequential unilateral lung lavage was carried out with a break of several days in between procedures. This is to allow for recovery of the lavaged lung. Recently, bilateral sequential whole lung lavage procedures have been performed in the adult population. Here we describe a technique that enables more refined control over the pressure, volume and time taken in the delivery of the lavage fluid, which enables the lavage of both lungs to be performed within the same procedure and provides safe and effective protein removal for the paediatric patient population.
Nick is a Senior Paediatric Perfusionist at Great Ormond Street Hospital. With over 13 years’ experience working across the Midlands, London and the South East, he is also a college examiner and Honorary Lecturer in Biomedical Engineering at Queen Mary University, London.
