Bronchoalveolar Lavages for Cytologic Assessment in Intensive Care Unit Patients

Little is known about bronchoalveolar lavages performed for cytological assessment during bronchial fibroscopy in critically ill patients. Frequency of use, indications, actual contribution to diagnosis and therapeutic decision, and complications have not been extensively assessed. The primary objective of this multi center, prospective, observational study is to describe the frequency of use of bronchoalveolar lavages for cytological assessement in critically ill patients, identify their indications, assess their contribution to diagnosis and therapeutic decisions, and estimate the frequency of induced respiratory events.