Bronchiectasis

Question 1

What is Bronchiectasis?

Answer 1

Chronic dilation of one or more bronchi.

Question 2

What else is Bronchiectasis associated with?

Answer 2

Poor mucus clearance.

A predisposition to bacterial infection.

Question 3

Is Bronchiectasis obstructive or restrictive?

Answer 3

Obstructive.

Question 4

What can cause Bronchiectasis?

Answer 4

Prior infections
Immunodeficiencies
Tuberculosis
Connective tissue diseases
Congenital causes: Kartagener syndrome,    alpha 1 anti-trypsin deficiency

Question 5

What are the symptoms experienced with Bronchiectasis?

Answer 5

• Dyspnoea (difficult or laboured breathing)
• Chronic green sputum
• Repeated chest infection
• Halitosis (bad breath)

Question 6

What are the clinical signs?

Answer 6

• Coarse crepitations (a crackling sound made when breathing with an inflamed lung, detected using a stethoscope)
• Hypoxaemia (an abnormally low concentration of oxygen in the blood)
• Hypercapnia (excessive carbon dioxide in the bloodstream, typically caused by inadequate respiration)

Question 7

What are the abnormal test results indicating Bronchiectasis?

Answer 7

Signet ring sign on a CT scan (Airway is bigger than the pulmonary artery)
Abnormal blood gases

Question 8

What are the medical interventions?

Answer 8

Control infections with antibiotics (nebulisers)

Surgically removing mucosal plugs

Question 9

What are the preventer methods?

Answer 9

Immunisation both in childhood and in adulthood, especially against pneumonia and influenza
All patients should stop smoking