Anesthesia Management and Use of Ultrasonography in Patients Undergoing Whole Lung Lavage Under General Anesthesia: A Retrospective Analysis

Objective: Whole lung lavage (WLL) is a treatment procedure for pulmonary alveolar proteinosis (PAP), in which lung is washed with large amounts of saline in a controlled manner. Our aim is to analyze the anesthesia management and the ultrasonography use during WLL, retrospectively. Methods: Preoperative and perioperative anesthesia related data and data on the use of ultrasonography of 19 WLL precedures of 11 patients, with PAP, performed between January 2018 and December 2020 were evaluated. Results: A statistically significant difference was found in the partial oxygen pressure and peripheral oxygen saturation values of the patients after WLL when compared to the pre-procedure (p<0.001). The number of patients who required O2 decresaed to 1 from 9 after WLL (p=0.008) Complications were recorded in only 4 of 19 procedures. While only hypoxia was observed during one procedure, hypoxemia and fluid leakage were detected during two procedures. Hypoxemia, fluid leakage and hypotension were detected in one procedure. Conclusion: Whole lung lavage procedure is safe when performed by an experienced and coordinated team in management of PAP patients. We think that ultrasonography may play an effective role in continuing the procedure safely and in early diagnosis of complications that may occur during WLL. Keywords: Pulmonary alveolar proteinosis, whole lung lavage, general anesthesia, lung ultrasound