BRONCHIECTASIS Flashcards
What is bronchiectasis?
Long-term condition where the airways of the lung become abnormally widened, leading to a build-up of excess UID that can make the lung more vulnerable to infection
Which organisms cause bronchiectasis?
H. influenzae
Strep. pneumoniae
Staph. aureus
Pseudomonas Aeruginosa
Which conditions cause bronchiectasis?
Cystic fibrosis
Measles
Bronchiolitis
Pneumonia
HIV, TB
Bronchial obstruction
Rheumatoid Arthritis
What are the main symptoms of bronchiectasis?
Persistent cough
Copious purulent sputum
Intermittent haemoptysis
What are the signs of bronchiectasis?
Finger clubbing
Coarse inspiratory crepitatuons
Wheeze (asthma, COPD)
What are the complications of bronchiectasis?
Pneumonia
Pleural Effusion
Pneumothorax
Cerebral Abscess
Which scans would you do for bronchiectasis? What would you find?
CXR: cystic shadows, thickened bronchial walls
HRCT CHEST: assess extent and distribution of disease
BRONCHOSCOPY: locate site of haemoptysis, exclude obstruction and obtain sample
What samples would you take for bronchiectasis?
Sputum culture
How is bronchiectasis managed?
Airway clearance technique and mycolytics
Antibiotics
Nebuliser salbutamol
Prednisolone
