Bronchiectasis

Question 1

What is the definition of bronchiectasis?

Answer 1

• Pathological distal dilation and damage of bronchi from severe infective episodes or recurrent infection

Question 2

What occurs in the dilation of the distal bronchi?

Answer 2

• Mucous build up

- Vulnerable to new infections

Question 3

What are the clinical symptoms of bronchiectasis?

Answer 3

• Chronic cough (>6 months)
• Daily sputum
• Wheeze
• Dyspnoea
• Tiredness
• Occasional chest pain
• Haemoptysis

Question 4

What are the signs on examination of bronchiectasis?

Answer 4

• Finger clubbing

- Course inspiratory crepitations

Question 5

What is the main cause of bronchiectasis?

Answer 5

• Idiopathic

Question 6

What other pathologies of bronchiectasis exist?

Answer 6

• Immobile cillia syndrome
• CF
• Childhood infections (measles)
• Hypogammaglobulinaemia
• Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis
• TB

Question 7

What initial investigations should be done for bronchiectasis?

Answer 7

• HRCT (high res CT) thorax
• Sputum culture
• Bronchographys

Question 8

What tests should be done in the sputum culture?

Answer 8

• Total IgE
• Aspergillus precipitins
• CF genotyping

Question 9

What treatment should be used following diagnosis?

Answer 9

• Chest physiotherapy
• Antibiotics
• Inhaled bronchodilators/corticosteroids
• Postdural draining/ surgery if needed

Question 10

What three common bacteria can cause bronchiectasis?

Answer 10

• Haemophilus influenzae
• Staphylococcus Aureus
• Pseudomonas spp