Bronchiectasis Flashcards
What is bronchiectasis?
An acquired irreversible dilation and distortion of the airways that often results when pulmonary infection leads to destruction of bronchial wall cartilage, blood vessels elastic tissue and smooth muscle
An acquired irreversible dilation and distortion of the airways describes what?
Bronchiectassis
What causes bronchiectasis?
A pulmonary infection that leads to destruction of bronchial wall cartilage, blood vessels, elastic tissue and smooth muscle
What portion of the lung is bronchiectasis most likely to affect?
Smaller airways with less supporting cartilage
T/F: Bronchiectasis is generally limited to one area of the lung
False, it can be limited to one specific area by it also can involve multiple areas or be diffuse
T/F: bronchiectasis is a primary disease process
False. Bronchiectasis develops secondary to another disease process, generally pulmonary infections
When diagnosing bronchiectasis, what questions should you be asking?
What other disease processes are active with this
What other disease processes we active that allowed for this in the past
What are the 3 patterns of dilation associated with bronchiectasis?
Cylindrical aka tubular
Varicose aka fusiform
Saccular aka cystic
Describe varicose bronchiectasis
The bronchi are dilated and constricted in an irregular fashion similar to varicose veins resulting in a distorted bulbous shape
Kind of have a corrugated look to the bronchi
Describe cylindrical bronchiectasis
The bronchi are dilated and rigid and have regular outlines like a tube. They will fail to taper for 6-10 generations before appearing to abruptly end because of mucus obstruction
Describe cystic/saccular bronchiectasis
The bronchi progressively increase in diameter until they end in large cyst like sacs in the lung parenchyma
Ring opacities can be visible at bases of the lung
Describe the effects of bronchiectasis on the lungs
Chronic dilation and distortion of bronchial airways
Excessive production of foul smelling sputum
Bronchospasm
Hyperinflation of alveoli
Atelectasis
Consolidation and parenchymal fibrosis
Hemorrhage secondary to bronchial arterial erosion
What is the prevalence of bronchiectasis in the united states
350-500k adults have the disease
Who is more likely to be diagnosed with bronchiectasis?
Women
Older than 60
Describe how bronchiectasis emerges as a disease process in an individual with a pulmonary infection
An individual has a pulmonary infection or injury to their airway, as a result the body responds with inflammation which damages the airway walls and impairs the mucociliary escalator which compromises secretion clearance and allows for continued infection resulting in a repeat of the cycle