CompletedNot Applicable

Comparison of Procedural Yield of Bronchoalveolar Lavage Using Three Different Techniques in Subjects Undergoing Flexible Bronchoscopy

India942 participantsStarted 2022-06-01

Plain-language summary

Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) via flexible bronchoscopy is a method used to sample the cellular and microbiological components of the alveolar space. It is a procedure in which 2-3 measured aliquots of sterile normal saline are instilled after wedging the scope to the suitable segmental bronchus. BAL is performed from the segments/ lobes showing ground-glass opacities (GGO), tree-in-bud lesions or focal consolidations guided by HRCT. In diffuse lung involvement, BAL is performed either from RML or the lingula.\[3\] It is recovered through the bronchoscope via different suction methods so as to get a sample of epithelial lining fluid of small airways and alveoli. Either manual suction or wall suction can be used for aspiration of fluid during BAL. The fluid recovered is then sent for cytology and microbiology examination studies including AFB, MGIT, GeneXpert, Galactomannan, fungal cultures to diagnose various conditions like PAP, eosinophilic pneumonia, bacterial or fungal infections, specific forms of ILD. Three techniques have been described to perform BAL. To the best of our knowledge no previous study has compared the three methods of obtaining the BAL in the same cohort of subjects.The authors believe that the procedural yield of BAL will be best by manual suction using rubber tubing compared to manual suction without rubber tubing or wall suction. Herein, the investigators compare the three methods of obtaining BAL in subjects undergoing BAL for various respiratory diseases

Who can participate

Age range

18 Years – 90 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

Inclusion Criteria: * All patients undergoing BAL procedure for various indications using flexible bronchoscopy Exclusion Criteria: * Hemodynamic instability (SBP \<90mmHg , Baseline Sp02 \<92% on room air) * Failure to provide informed consent * Platelet count \<20,000 per mm3 * Pregnancy * Subjects already enrolled in any other study

Questions worth asking your doctor

Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.

1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?

Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.

Questions for the trial coordinator

The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.

1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?

A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.

What they're measuring

To compare proportional procedures in which we obtain optimal yield

Timeframe: 1 hour (during bronchsocopy)

Trial details

NCT IDNCT05425875

SponsorPost Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2023-06-30

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Bronchoalveolar Lavaage trials