Bronchietasis

Question 1

What is bronchiectasis?

Answer 1

Bronchiectasis is the chronic irreversible distortion and dilation of the bronchi. Chronic inflammation damages the elastic and muscular components of subsegmental airways sometimes the parenchyma. Warm and moist environment of the lung combined with excess mucus leads to a cycle of infection, persistent inflammation and further obstruction.

Question 2

Symptoms?

Answer 2

Noisy and crackly on ausci
Voluminous quantities of sputum
Can get finger clubbing and haemoptysis (blood-tinged sputum)
Chest pain
SoB

Question 3

Causes?

Answer 3

Bronchi are damaged due to a previous childhood infection.
Immunodeficiency
Allergic condition known as ABPA - allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis which is an allergy to a fungi
Aspiration - swallowing of something into the lungs

Question 4

Treatment?

Answer 4

Antibiotics to treat infection
Bronchodilators in an acute attack
ACBT - a cycle of deep breathing, normal breathing, huffing and coughing to increase lung volumes and clear secretions
Postural drainage and manual techniques such as percussion, vibrations and shaking
Devices such as flutter