Effect of bronchoscopic alveolar lavage on bronchiectasis

Objective To explore the effect of bronchoscopic alveolar lavage on bronchiectasis. Methods A total of 60 patients with bronchiectasis treated in our hospital from January 2012 to January 2017 were randomly divided into study group (n=30)and control group (n=30). All the patients were given expectorant drugs and antibiotics. In addition, the study group was treated with bronchoscopic alveolar lavage, while the control group was treated with postural drainage. The treatment lasted for two weeks. Results Before treatment, the arterial oxygen partial pressure (PaO₂) was (65±11) mmHg in the study group, and(64±12) mmHg in the control group, the difference between the two groups was not statistically significant (P > 0.05). After 2 weeks of treatment, PaO₂ was (79±14) mmHg in the study group, and (69±15) mmHg in the control group. It improved in both two groups, but the improvement of the study group was significantly greater than that of the control group (P=0.031). In the study group, 14 cases improved markedly, 14 cases improved, with the total effective rate of 93.33%. In the control group, 7 cases markedly improved, 12 cases improved with the total effective rate of 63.33%. The total effective rate in the study group was significantly higher than that in the control group (P=0.027). Before treatment, there was no significant difference in the serum TNF-α level and high sensitive C reactive protein (hs-CRP) level between two groups (P > 0.05). After treatment, the TNF-α and hs-CRP levels were significantly lower in study group than those of control group(11.98±1.89) nmol/L vs (23.25±3.48) nmol/L, P=0.013; (37.21±6.24) mg/L vs (68.05±7.17) mg/L, P=0.002. Conclusion Bronchoscopic alveolar lavage can effectively improve the arterial oxygen partial pressure and reduce the level of inflammatory factors in patients with bronchiectasis.