Figure 3

Whole lung lavages were performed, due to the small sizes of the airways until the age of 6 y, via a blocked endotracheal tube through which the child was ventilated (Figure. 3 A, 1.) and through which also a pulmonary artery catheter (Figure. 3 A, 3., blue) was inserted and blocked in the left or right main stem bronchus (small syringe) and the lavage was done (Figure. 3 A, 4., large syringe). The tight fit of the blocked pulmonary artery catheter was continuously monitored via a 1.8 mm endoscope (Figure. 3 A, 2., black). Figure. 3 B shows the change of nasal flow of oxygen before and after the first 49 whole lung lavages (P < 0.0001, paired comparison by Wilcoxon test); in the figure values are ordered according observed change in oxygen flow ("triangle tip down" indicates reduced flow after lavage, "triangle tip upwards" indicates increased flow of oxygen after lavage, and " = " indicates unchanged flow of oxygen. From year 10 onward lung function tests were performed, forced vital capacity (FVC) improved dramatically with more intensely performed lavages (not shown), as did forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) (Figure. 3 C).