Bronchiectasis Flashcards
1
Q
What is the definition of bronchiectasis?
A
- Pathological distal dilation and damage of bronchi from severe infective episodes or recurrent infection
2
Q
What occurs in the dilation of the distal bronchi?
A
- Mucous build up
- Vulnerable to new infections
3
Q
What are the clinical symptoms of bronchiectasis?
A
- Chronic cough (>6 months)
- Daily sputum
- Wheeze
- Dyspnoea
- Tiredness
- Occasional chest pain
- Haemoptysis
4
Q
What are the signs on examination of bronchiectasis?
A
- Finger clubbing
- Course inspiratory crepitations
5
Q
What is the main cause of bronchiectasis?
A
- Idiopathic
6
Q
What other pathologies of bronchiectasis exist?
A
- Immobile cillia syndrome
- CF
- Childhood infections (measles)
- Hypogammaglobulinaemia
- Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis
- TB
7
Q
What initial investigations should be done for bronchiectasis?
A
- HRCT (high res CT) thorax
- Sputum culture
- Bronchographys
8
Q
What tests should be done in the sputum culture?
A
- Total IgE
- Aspergillus precipitins
- CF genotyping
9
Q
What treatment should be used following diagnosis?
A
- Chest physiotherapy
- Antibiotics
- Inhaled bronchodilators/corticosteroids
- Postdural draining/ surgery if needed
10
Q
What three common bacteria can cause bronchiectasis?
A
- Haemophilus influenzae
- Staphylococcus Aureus
- Pseudomonas spp
