Additional file 1: of Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid dilution in ICU patients: what we should know and what we should do

Guidelines of the American Thoracic Society were followed during the bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) procedure. Selection of the segment for BAL was guided by chest x-ray changes. The right middle lobe or lingual lobe was selected when diffuse infiltrates were present. Five 20-mL aliquots of sterile saline were instilled and aspirated gently in each patient. The total volume of the retrieved liquid should be greater than or equal to 30% of the total volume of the instilled saline. (ZIP 492 kb)