Lecture 12: Bronchiectasis Flashcards
Bronchiectasis: definition
Permanent, abnormal dilatation of the bronchi
Bronchiectasis: hypothesis
External insult –> respiratory tract damage –> infection –> inflammation –> damage (repeat)
What is the etiology of the initial external insult? (5)
Infection, aspiration, autoimmune, toxic inhalation, radiation
Bronchiectasis: pathophysiology
Once airways are irreversibly dilated, defense mechanisms are disturbed (no cilia, bacterial colonization, abnormal collapsible airways)
In bronchiectasis, small airways are often?
Inflamed, obstructed
Bronchiectasis: infections causes
Measles/pertussis, TB, MAC, allergic bronchopulonary aspergillosis
But recurrent infections are not common, what can cause this? (3 main causes and details)
Airway obstruction (tumor, foreign body, thick mucus); impaired mucous clearance (CF, primary ciliary dyskinesia); defect in host defenses (humoral/cellular immunity deficiency)
Patterns of bronchiectasis (3)
Cylindrical: smooth dilation; varicose: focal narrowings along dilated bronchus, cystic: progressive dilation of bronchus which terminates in cysts or saccules
Do you only get one bronchiectasis pattern per patient?
Nope–they can have all three!
Most prominent symptom of bronchiectasis
Cough w/ copious sputum
Why can a patient with bronchiectasis get hemoptysis?
Result of inflammation –> increased bronchial blood supply –> erosion/mechanical trauma –> hemoptysis
Bronchiectasis: physical exam
May have wheezing/ronchi/crackles, clubbing
Bronchiectasis: gas exchange
May be normal if disease is still localized
Bronchiectasis: pulmonary function test
Normal, or obstructive ventilatory defect w/ air trapping
Bronchiectasis: treatment (3)
Antibiotics, bronchopulmonary drainage, bronchodilators
When are bronchodilators indicated?
W/ partially reversible co-existing airway obstruction
Why would we want to do airway clearence techniques? What do these techniques do?
Because ciliary elevator isn’t working; loosen mucous via rubbing or vibration
Why do we want to treat the hemoptysis in bronchiectasis? How do we treat?
It can be life-threatening via asphyxiation (block of gas exchange); electrical cauterization