Diagnostic Bronchial Lavage in Tuberculosis

¹ Medical Director, Fall River Tuberculosis Hospital, Fall River, Mass.

Bronchial lavage has a definite place among the tests to detect tubercle bacilli. In patients suspected of pulmonary tuberculosis by x-ray, diagnostic bronchial lavage should be routine. Even if the gastric lavage were as sensitive as bronchial, the "optimal conditions" would make the former impractical. In mass x-ray surveys when minimal lesions are found bronchial lavage is the test of choice. Among cases for discharge from hospitals, a definite policy should be adopted in regard to tests. Almost every hospital differs. The most important is the interpretation of the clinical and radiological findings.

The danger of infection from gastric lavage-positive people is practically nil. This subject deserves further investigation.