bronchiectasis

Question 1

what is bronchiectasis

Answer 1

permanent dilatation of the airways secondary to chronic infection or inflammation

Question 2

features of bronchiectasis

Answer 2

persistent productive cough
large volumes of sputum
dyspnoea
haemoptysis
examination: coarse crackles, wheeze, clubbing

Question 3

causes of bronchiectasis

Answer 3

idiopathic
pneumonia
whooping cough
tuberculosis
alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency
connective tissue disorders (RA)
cystic fibrosis
yellow nail syndrome

Question 4

investigations for bronchiectasis

Answer 4

sputum culture: h.influenza, pseudomonas aeruginosa
chest x-ray findings: tram-track opacities (parallel line shadows), ring shadows
high resolution CT- test of choice

Question 5

management of bronchiectasis

Answer 5

physical training
postural drainage
antibiotics for exacerbations + long term rotating antibiotic in severe cases
bronchodilators in selected cases
immunisations
surgery

Question 6

findings of bronchiectasis on high-resolution CT scan

Answer 6

bronchial dilatation
wall thickening
diffuse opacities