Bronchiectasis Flashcards
1
Q
What is bronchiectasis?
A
Obstructive lung disease characterised by** permanent** dilatation of of bronchi/oles caused by destruction of muscle & elastic tissue.
2
Q
What are the causes of bronchiestasis?
A
Congenital;
- Cystic fibrosis
Post-infection;
- Pneumonia, TB, HIV, measles, pertussis, bronchiolitis
Other;
- Bronchial obstruction (tumour, foreign body)
- Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis
Main causative organisms;
- H. influenzae
- Staph. aureus
- Strep. pneumoniae
- Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
3
Q
What are the clinical features of bronchiectesis?
And what are some complications?
A
Symptoms;
- Persistent cough & copious purulent sputum & intermitten haemoptysis
Signs;
- Finger clubbing
- Coarse inspiratory crepitations
- Wheeze (asthma, COPD, ABPA)
Complications;
- Pneumonia
- Pleural effusion
- Pneumothorax
- Haemoptysis
- Cerebral abscess
- Amyloidosis
4
Q
What investigations can you perform for bronchiectasis?
A
- Sputum culture
-
CXR
- Cystic shadows
- Thickened bronchial walls (tramline & ring shadows)
- Thin section high-resolution CT (HRCT); assess extent & distribution of disease
- Spirometry; obstructive pattern
- Bronchoscopy; locate site of haemoptysis/ exclude obstruction
- Others; serum immunoglobulins, CF sweat test, Aspergillus precipitins or skin-prick test
5
Q
How would you manage bronchiectasis?
A
- Postural drainage - twice daily
- Antibiotics
- Bronchodilators
- Surgery (if localized disease/ severe haemoptysis)
