5. Bronchiecstasis

Question 1

What is bronchiecstasis?

Answer 1

Chronic inflamamtion of the bronchi and bronchioles leading to permanent dilation and thinning o fthe airways.

Question 2

What are the main causes of bronchiecstasis?

Answer 2

CF,
Post infection (measles, pertussis, bronchiolitis, pneumonia, TB, HIV

less common: RA, obstruction, allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosus, hypogammaglobulinaemia

Question 3

What are the clinical features of bronchiecstasis?

Answer 3

Persistent cough, intermitent heamoptysis
Finger clubbing, inspiratory crepitations,
wheeze,

Question 4

What are the complications of bronchiecstasis?

Answer 4

Pneumonia, PE, pneumothorax, heamoptysis, cerebral abscess, amyloidosis

Question 5

What tests can be done for CF

Answer 5

Sputumn culture, CXR, bronchoscopy- obstructions, obtain samples for culture

serum immunoglobins, CF sweat test, aspergillus precipitins, skin prick test, total IgE

Question 6

What would a CXR show when looking for CF?

Answer 6

Cystic shadows, thickened bronchial walls (tramline and ring shadows)

Question 7

How can physiotherapy help bronchiecstasis

Answer 7

Airway clearance techniques and physiotherapy are used to get rid of all the mucous in the chest

Question 8

How can antibiotics be used to treat bronchiecstasis

Answer 8

Can be prescribed during exacerbation’s of patients known to culture

Pseudomonas will require oral ciprofloxacin

Question 9

What other drug treatments can be used to treat bronchiecstasis?

Answer 9

Bronchodilators (e.g. salbutamol) if reversibility indicated

Corticosteroids for aspergillus infections