Nationwide Questionnaire-based Survey on Methods for Performing Bronchoalveolar Lavage

Takeshi Isobe; Atsushi Miyamoto; Yuko Waseda; Yukari Tsubata; Mitsuo Otsuka; Manabu Ishida; Yasushi Horimasu; Shinichi Nureki; Shunichi Hamaguchi; Noriaki Kurimoto; Hiroki Takahashi; Haruyuki Ishii; Multicenter Research Group for the Future of BAL

doi:10.58585/respend.2024-0012

Original Article

Nationwide Questionnaire-based Survey on Methods for Performing Bronchoalveolar Lavage

Takeshi Isobe, Atsushi Miyamoto, Yuko Waseda, Yukari Tsubata, Mitsuo Otsuka, Manabu Ishida, Yasushi Horimasu, Shinichi Nureki, Shunichi Hamaguchi, Noriaki Kurimoto, Hiroki Takahashi, Haruyuki Ishii, Multicenter Research Group for the Future of BAL

Author information

Takeshi Isobe
Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Medical Oncology & Respiratory Medicine, Shimane University Faculty of Medicine
Atsushi Miyamoto
Toranomon Hospital, Department of Respiratory Medicine, Respiratory Center
Yuko Waseda
Third Department of Internal Medicine, University of Fukui
Yukari Tsubata
Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Medical Oncology & Respiratory Medicine, Shimane University Faculty of Medicine
Mitsuo Otsuka
Department of Respiratory Medicine and Allergology, Sapporo Medical University School of Medicine
Manabu Ishida
Department of Respiratory Medicine, Kyorin University Faculty of Medicine
Yasushi Horimasu
Department of Respiratory Medicine, Hiroshima University Hospital
Shinichi Nureki
Department of Respiratory Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Oita University Faculty of Medicine
Shunichi Hamaguchi
Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Medical Oncology & Respiratory Medicine, Shimane University Faculty of Medicine
Noriaki Kurimoto
Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Medical Oncology & Respiratory Medicine, Shimane University Faculty of Medicine
Hiroki Takahashi
Department of Respiratory Medicine and Allergology, Sapporo Medical University School of Medicine
Haruyuki Ishii
Department of Respiratory Medicine, Kyorin University Faculty of Medicine
Multicenter Research Group for the Future of BAL

Keywords: bronchoalveolar lavage, questionnaire survey

JOURNAL OPEN ACCESS

2024 Volume 2 Issue 3 Pages 141-147

DOI https://doi.org/10.58585/respend.2024-0012

Details

Abstract

Background: Although bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) is widely used in clinical practice in Japan, the methods of saline injection and BAL sample analysis differ among institutions.

Materials and Methods: We conducted a questionnaire survey at 915 facilities accredited by the Japan Respiratory Society to examine the differences in the implementation methods of BAL among facilities. During the survey period from May 15, 2019, to July 30, 2019, we received responses from 442 facilities (48.3%).

Results: A total of 364 facilities (86.5%) reported that BAL was performed in less than 30% of bronchoscopy procedures. The saline volume used in BAL was 50 mL× 3 times at 377 facilities (90.7%). At 380 facilities (88.6%), BAL was performed on sites with strong imaging lesions. Overall, 244 facilities (56.9%) did not perform BAL for acute exacerbation of interstitial pneumonia.

Conclusions: As each aspect of the BAL procedure was found to differ across facilities, standardization of the BAL procedures is desirable.

Corresponding author

Register with J-STAGE for free!