Use of bronchopulmonary lavage for eliminating inhaled fume particles from a patient with arc welder's lung

Intern Med. 1998 Nov;37(11):962-4. doi: 10.2169/internalmedicine.37.962.

Abstract

A 42-year-old man, who had worked as a welder for 20 years, was admitted to our hospital complaining of a dry cough. A chest radiograph showed diffuse small nodular shadows and chest computed tomography revealed small patchy opacities. A transbronchial lung biopsy specimen showed welding fume particles mainly located in alveolar space with mild fibrosis of alveolar septa. In order to prevent further fibrosis, bronchopulmonary lavage (BPL) was performed to eliminate the fume particles. The amount of iron particles derived from the total lavage fluid was 911.7 mg.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Biopsy
  • Bronchoalveolar Lavage* / methods
  • Ferric Compounds / adverse effects*
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Inhalation Exposure / adverse effects*
  • Male
  • Occupational Exposure / adverse effects*
  • Pneumoconiosis / diagnosis
  • Pneumoconiosis / etiology
  • Pneumoconiosis / therapy*
  • Pulmonary Fibrosis / prevention & control
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed
  • Welding*

Substances

  • Ferric Compounds
  • ferric oxide