Bronchiectasis

Question 1

What is bronchiectasis? Give a brief description.

Answer 1

Bronchiectasis is the result of chronic necrotising infection/s. It is charcterised by the permanent dilation of bronchi and bronchioles as the result of desturction of smooth muscle and elastic tissue.

Clinical features include cough, fever and abundant purulent sputum.

It is the result of obstruction and infection.

Obstruction -> pooled secretions distal to blockage -> airway inflammation -> necrosis -> fibrosis and airway dliation

Infection -> airway inflammation -> necrosis -> fibrosis and airway dliation

Question 2

List three complications of bronchiectasis.

Answer 2

• Cor pulmonale
• Amyloidosis
• Lung abcesses

Question 3

Bronchiectasis usually develops in conjunction with other conditions. List these conditions.

Answer 3

Hereditary or congenital conditions - eg CF

Bronchial obstruction - eg foreign body

Immotile cilia syndromes - eg Kartagener’s Syndrome

Necrotising pneumonia- eg bacteria, viruses, fungus

Metastatic cerebral abcess

Question 4

Which areas of the lung are most often affected by bronchiectasis?

Answer 4

Lower zones.

NB: Can be very localised in the case of a FB.

Question 5

By how much can the airways be dilated in bronchiectasis?