Rare lung disorder treated successfully by KGMU docs
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Lucknow: King George's Medical University (KGMU) claims to be the first govt institute in Uttar Pradesh to successfully perform whole lung lavage (WLL) on a patient suffering from pulmonary alveolar proteinosis (PAP)— a rare lung disease seen in only about seven out of 10 lakh people worldwide.
Aniruddh (40) from Basti district worked for over 15 years in the cement and stone-blasting industry, exposing him to harmful dust particles. About five months ago, he began experiencing persistent breathlessness and dry cough, which later worsened with blood in the cough. Initially, he took treatment from local doctors with no relief. A private hospital suspected PAP but couldn't offer treatment. He was then referred to KGMU, where his condition was finally diagnosed and managed.
At KGMU's department of respiratory medicine, led by Dr SK Verma and Dr Rajiv Garg, Aniruddh underwent detailed investigation. Chest X-ray and high-resolution CT scans showed severe lung damage and a confirmatory bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) test diagnosed him with PAP . According to Prof Rajiv Garg, PAP is a condition in which protein-lipid substances accumulate inside the lungs' air sacs (alveoli), preventing oxygen from entering the bloodstream.
If untreated, it can become life-threatening. The disorder is linked to prolonged exposure to industrial dust, particularly in cement, mining and construction sectors. Since WLL is the only established treatment for PAP, KGMU doctors planned to perform this highly delicate procedure, where each lung is washed separately with sterile fluid while keeping the patient alive on the other lung. The procedure was done in two phases.
On June 13 the right lung was flushed with around 15 litres of sterile fluid. On July 7, the left lung was treated in a similar way. Each session lasted about 10 hours with the patient under general anaesthesia and ventilator support. To ensure effective cleaning, doctors repositioned the patient every five minutes, allowing the fluid to reach the deepest areas of the lungs. While such a procedure can cost Rs 8–10 lakh in private hospitals, Aniruddh's treatment was done almost free of cost under Ayushman Bharat scheme, showcasing govt's commitment to accessible healthcare.
Post-treatment, Aniruddh showed dramatic improvement—his oxygen requirement dropped from 15 litres per minute to nearly zero. He is now stable and is likely to be discharged soon.
KGMU VC Prof Sonia Nityanand praised the doctors, calling it a 'proud moment for the university' and a significant step in treatment of rare respiratory diseases in public healthcare system. Prof Suresh Kumar advised the public to be cautious about symptoms like long-standing cough, breathlessness and oxygen dependence, urging that such issues should not be mistaken for common diseases like tuberculosis, as early diagnosis is crucial in rare cases like PAP.
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