Comparison of bronchoscopic and nonbronchoscopic bronchoalveolar lavage in healthy cats

Abstract

OBJECTIVE To compare bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) accomplished by use of a bronchoscopic (B-BAL) and a nonbronchoscopic (NB-BAL) technique in healthy cats. ANIMALS 12 healthy cats. PROCEDURES Two BALs were performed in a randomized order 2 weeks apart in each cat. Cats were anesthetized, and a 2.9-mm fiberoptic bronchoscope (B-BAL) or 8F red rubber catheter (NB-BAL) was wedged in a bronchus. Two 5-mL aliquots of saline (0.9% NaCl) solution were infused into the left and right caudal lung fields and aspirated manually with a 20-mL syringe. Proportion of BAL fluid (BALF) retrieved, depth of wedging, and anesthetic complications were recorded. Total nucleated cell count, differential cell count, and semiquantitative scores of cytologic slide quality were determined for all BALF samples. Results were compared with ANOVAs and Wilcoxon signed rank tests. RESULTS Proportion of retrieved BALF and depth of wedging were significantly greater for B-BAL than NB-BAL. Differential cell counts and cytologic slide quality did not differ significantly between techniques. Complications included transient hemoglobin desaturation (24/24 [100%] BALs) and prolonged anesthetic recovery time (4/24 [17%] BALs). Anesthetic recovery scores did not differ significantly between techniques. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Results indicated that NB-BAL was noninferior to B-BAL with regard to ease of performance, anesthetic variables, and cytologic slide quality for cats without clinical respiratory tract disease.

Comparison of signalment, clinical, laboratory and radiographic parameters in cats with feline asthma and chronic bronchitis

“…In the present study, a significant number of BALF samples were taken without visualisation, which is described as a method not inferior to bronchoscopic BAL regarding cytological value by a recent study. 38 The number of macrophages was not reported for all BALF samples and detailed information on the procedure (presence of surfactant, recovered fluid volumes) were not available owing to the retrospective nature of the study. Therefore, some deep airway washes instead of true alveolar washes might have been included in some cases.…”

Felines Asthma und chronische Bronchitis – Übersicht zu Diagnostik und Therapie

“…2) ist essenziell, um FA und CB zu unterscheiden und von anderen, beispielsweise infektiösen Grundursachen abzugrenzen [2] [50]. In einer Studie an gesunden Katzen unterschied sich die Qualität von BALF-Zytologieproben zwischen blind und endoskopisch gewonnenen Proben nicht signifikant [51]. Da eine immunsuppressive Therapie zu einer Exazerbation infektiöser Grundkrankheiten führen kann, sollte im Rahmen der diagnostischen Aufarbeitung bei jedem stabilen Patienten eine Untersuchung von BALF auf Infektionserreger empfohlen werden [43].…”

Factors associated with lung cytology as obtained by non-endoscopic broncho-alveolar lavage in group-housed calves

“…The reference method to study inflammation of the deep airways, is cytology on broncho-alveolar lavage (BAL) samples [14–17]. This can be done by bronchoscopic methods or by the use of non-endoscopic techniques, using a BAL-catheter [18, 19]. Both BAL technique and flushing volume greatly influence cytological results [17, 20].…”