A Case of Pulmonary Alveolar Proteinosis Undergoing Whole Lung Lavage in Combination with Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation

Aybuke Kekecoglu, Cengiz Oz

Abstract

Pulmonary alveolar proteinosis (PAP) is a rare disease whose etiology is not completely known and is characterized by deposition of surfactant proteins and phospholipid-rich acid Schiff (PAS) (+) material in alveoli and bronchioles [1]. One third of the patients die because of progressive hypoxemia and secondary infections while a small proportion does not respond to treatment and subsequently fibrosis develops. In this report, a case of pulmonary alveolar proteinosis admitted to intensive care unit due to progressive hypoxemia and treated with bilateral TLL along with veno-arterial (v-a) extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is presented.

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