Apollo doctors perform rare lung wash, 38-year-old patient recovers

Metro India News | Hyderabad 

Doctors at Apollo Hospitals, Jubilee Hills, successfully performed a highly specialised Whole Lung Lavage (WLL) on a 38-year-old patient with Pulmonary Alveolar Proteinosis (PAP), a rare lung disorder.

The 10-hour procedure, considered the gold standard for select PAP cases, involved washing both lungs with nearly 30 litres of warm saline to remove protein deposits that impair oxygen exchange. It was led by Dr. Vijay Kumar Chennamchetty, along with a multidisciplinary team including pulmonologists, anaesthesiologists, and critical care experts.

The patient, who required six litres per minute of oxygen at admission, showed marked improvement after the procedure and was discharged on just one litre per minute, indicating significant recovery in lung function.

Whole Lung Lavage is among the most complex procedures in pulmonary medicine, requiring precise airway control, advanced anaesthesia, intensive monitoring, and seamless coordination among teams. The anaesthesia unit, physiotherapists, and technicians played a key role in ensuring safety and effectiveness.

Dr. Chennamchetty highlighted that the success reflects strong teamwork and expertise in handling rare pulmonary conditions. Hospital leadership noted that the outcome underscores Apollo’s growing capabilities in advanced interventional pulmonology and complex respiratory care.