Volume-controlled lung lavage in the treatment of asthma, bronchiectasis, and mucoviscidosis.

Lavage of the lungs with a sterile 0.9 per cent sodium chloride solution resulted in significant improvement in ventilation and gas exchange in 10 of 18 patients with asthma or asthmatic bronchitis that had been refractory to other therapy including steroids. Forced expiratory volume in one second increased in 3, and arterial oxygen tension increased in 5 of 10 patients with mucoviscidosis. Four patients with bronchiectasis reported a decrease in sputum. Lung lavage did not cause persistent functional impairment in a healthy man. One patient died of pulmonary embolism one hour after lavage of her left lung. In 3 patients severe respiratory acidosis developed during the procedure, and there was electrocardiographic evidence of acute myocardial ischemia in one of these. All patients with mucoviscidosis were febrile during the 24 hours after lavage. No other complications were observed. It is concluded that the condition of some patients improved after volume-controlled lung lavage and that further studies to establish indications for this pro­ cedure are needed.