Bronchiectasis

Question 1

What would you observe in someone with bronchiectasis

Answer 1

Cough, sputum production, chest pain nasal polyps, dysponea
Mouth- pursed lip breathing due to SOB, use of accessory muscles
Look at breathing pattern, laboured, paradoxical, quality of voice due to SOB
chest shape, WOB, chest wall movement
May look at colour of skin, eyes and hands may indicates something else, pump/bucket handle

Question 2

What would you palpate in someone with bronchiectasis

Answer 2

Apical, abdominal, lateral costal breathing
Abdomen movements, pain, body temp, scars response to touch, look for distended diaphragm
Trachea, skin

Question 3

What could you use to assess bronchiectasis

Answer 3

Auscultation, pfts, chest x ray, sputum sample

Question 4

What would you expect to see on a chest x ray for

Answer 4

Tram track opacifies usually seen in cylindrical bronchiectasis and air fluid levels may be seen in cystic bronchiectasis

Question 5

Treatment for bronchiectasis

Answer 5

Breathing techniques

Question 6

Why would you use breathing exercises for bronchiectasis

Answer 6

Breathing exercises decrease airway turbulence, decrease dead space, favour dependent regions, relax shoulder girdle, TEE increases lung volume and ventilation, decrease airway resistance, aids VQ matching, increases diffusion and O2 saturation, used particularly in bronchiectasis as it helps clear sputum