Bronchiectasis

Question 1

What is bronchiectasis.

Answer 1

Chronic infection of the bronchi and bronchioles leading to permanent dilatation of these airways.

Question 2

What are the main causative organisms of bronchiectasis. (4)

Answer 2

H. influenza.
Strep pneumonia.
Staph aureus.
Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Question 3

What are the congenital causes of bronchiectasis. (4)

Answer 3

CF.
Young’s syndrome.
Primary ciliary dyskinesia.
Kartanger’s syndrome.

Question 4

What are the post-infective causes of bronchiectasis. (6)

Answer 4

Measles. 
Pertussis. 
Bronchiolitis. 
Pneumonia. 
TB.
HIV.

Question 5

What are the other causes of bronchiectasis. (6)

Answer 5

Bronchial obstruction 9tumours, foreign body).
Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA).
Hypogammaglobulinaemia.
Rheumatoid arthritis.
UC.
Idiopathic.

Question 6

What are the symptoms of bronchiectasis. (3)

Answer 6

Persistent cough.
Copious purulent sputum.
Intermittent haemoptysis.

Question 7

What are the physical signs of bronchiectasis. (3)

Answer 7

Finger clubbing.
Coarse inspiratory crepitations.
Wheeze (asthma, COPD, ABPA).

Question 8

What are the complications of bronchiectasis. (6)

Answer 8

Pneumonia. 
Pleural effusion. 
Pneumothorax. 
Haemoptysis. 
Cerebral abscess. 
Amyloidosis.

Question 9

What can be seen on the CXR of a patient with bronchiectasis. (2)

Answer 9

Cystic shadows.

Thickened bronchial walls (tramline and ring shadows).

Question 10

What sort of pattern is often seen on spirometry of a patient with bronchiectasis.

Answer 10

Obstructive pattern.