Anaesthetic management for whole lung lavage in a case of pulmonary alveolar proteinosis: A case report

Abstract

Pulmonary alveolar proteinosis is a rare disease in which lipoproteineous materials are deposited in the alveoli leading to impaired gas exchange and progressive hypoxaemia. Whole lung lavage is the treatment of choice. However, anaesthetic challenges like hypoxaemia, hypercarbia, hypotension during the procedure are always to be managed meticulously. Here, we describe a challenging case that underwent three sessions of whole lung lavage under general anaesthesia with endotracheal intubation with double lumen tube and one lung ventilation resulting clinical improvement in subsequent sessions.