Abstract
Pulmonary complications are the most frequent cause of morbidity and mortality in immunocompromised patients. The speed of clinical assessment and the initiation of appropriate therapy is critically related to survival. Fibreoptic bronchoscopy and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) had proved useful in making the diagnosis of pulmonary complications in a high proportion of immunocompromised patients, where less invasive techniques, such as blood cultures or sputum induction, have failed to establish a diagnosis. Bronchoscopy and BAL cause little discomfort and low morbidity, and should be performed as early in the disease course as possible, preferably before the onset of respiratory failure.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 217-220 |
Number of pages | 4 |
Journal | Monaldi Archives for Chest Disease - Cardiac Series |
Volume | 49 |
Issue number | 3 |
Publication status | Published - 1994 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine
- Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine