Bronchiectasis Flashcards
What is bronchiectasis?
Irreversible airway dilation involving the lung in either a focal or diffuse manner
What is the etiology of bronchiectasis?
Chronic inflammation in a part of the lung/all of the lung due to infections
CF
Who is more at risk for bronchiectasis?
Women, especially with age
Why is bronchiectasis less common nowadays?
Routine antibiotic usage
What are the symptoms of bronchiectasis?
Chronic cough
copious purulent sputum
hemoptysis
pleuritic chest pain
weight loss
What are some clinical findings of bronchiectasis?
foul-smelling breath- due to purulent sputum
crackles/rales- bases of the lungs
Anemia
Hypoxemia
Nail clubbing
What do you see on labs with bronchiectasis?
Decreased hemoglobin due to hemoptysis
What would you see on chest x ray?
Dilated and thickened bronchi may appear as tram tracks or as ring like markings
What would you see on a chest CT?
*Diagnostic of choice
dilated bronchi
What’s the most common organism for bronchiectasis?
H. flu
What’s the most severe infection with bronchiectasis?
Pseudomonas
What are the antibiotics used for bronchiectasis?
Amox, augmentin, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, and ciprofloxacin
What can you give to a patient for 6-12 mo.?
Macrolide to prophylactically tx patients
What is non-invasive therapy can treat bronchiectasis?
Chest physiotherapy
- postural drainage
- chest percussion
- inhaled bronchodilators
What can we use to remove accumulated secretions in bronchiectasis?
Broncoscopy
