Bronchiectasis

Question 1

What is bronchiectasis?

Answer 1

a permanent dilatation of the airways secondary to chronic infection or inflammation.

Question 2

Features & signs of bronchiectasis?

Answer 2

persistent productive cough. Large volumes of sputum may be expectorated
dyspnoea
haemoptysis

Signs
- abnormal chest auscultation
- coarse crackles
- wheeze
- clubbing may be present

Question 3

Causes of bronchiectasis?

Answer 3

post-infective: tuberculosis, measles, pertussis, pneumonia
cystic fibrosis
bronchial obstruction e.g. lung cancer/foreign body
immune deficiency: selective IgA, hypogammaglobulinaemia
allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA)
ciliary dyskinetic syndromes: Kartagener’s syndrome, Young’s syndrome
yellow nail syndrome

Question 4

What is the most common organism patient’s with bronchiectasis get?

Answer 4

!!Haemophilus influenzae!!

• Pseudomonas aeruginosa
• Klebisella spp.
• Streptococcus pneumoniae

Question 5

Management of bronchiectasis

Answer 5

• physical training (e.g. inspiratory muscle training)
• postural drainage
• antibiotics for exacerbation + long-term rotating antibiotics in severe cases
• bronchodilators in selected cases
• immunisations
• surgery in selected cases (e.g. localised disease)