Bronchiectasis

Question 1

What is bronchiectasis?

Answer 1

Permanent dilation of bronchi/bronchioles

Question 2

What usually causes bronchiectasis?

Answer 2

Usually recurrent bronchial infection associated with impaired drainage, airway obstruction, or host defense deficit(s)

Question 3

What occasionally causes bronchiectasis?

Answer 3

Secondary to episode of bacterial pneumonia

Question 4

What does NOT cause bronchiectasis?

Answer 4

Smoking

Question 5

What are symptoms of bronchiectasis?

Answer 5

Cough and daily mucopurulent sputum for months or more +/- dyspnea/wheezing
Mild/moderate airflow obstruction on PFT
Possibly associated with rhinosinusitis and hemoptysis

Question 6

What is seen on a CT scan of bronchiectasis?

Answer 6

Dilated bronchi (diffuse or focal)

Question 7

What diseases are associated with bronchiectasis?

Answer 7

CF
Airway obstruction
Other random ones

Question 8

What is seen with bronchiectasis + CF?

Answer 8

Upper lobes are favored

Prone to have pseudomonas colonization/infection

Question 9

What should be assumed with a child have more than a months worth of unexplained respiratory symptoms?

Answer 9

Foreign body aspiration

Question 10

How is bronchiectasis treated?

Answer 10

Basically…just treat the cause:
If obstructed, do bronchoscopy
If bacterial infection, use antibiotics
And so on and so forth

Question 11

What is the course of untreated severe bronchiectasis?

Answer 11

Dyspnea w/cyanosis
Occasional massive hemoptysis
Cor pulmonale
Amyloidosis
Brain abscess