Respiratory - Bronchiectasis Flashcards
What is bronchiectasis?
Permanent dilation of bronchi
What causes bronchiectasis?
Due to damage to airways :
- Pneumonia
- Idiopathic
- Whooping cough
- TB
- CF
- Yellow nail syndrome
What are the symptoms of bronchiectasis?
Shortness of breath
Chronic productive cough
Recurrent chest infections
Weight loss
What are the signs of bronchiectasis?
Sputum pot
Cachexia
Finger clubbing
Cor pulmonale signs
Crackles throughout chest, clear with coughing
What are the most common infective organisms?
Haemophilus influenzae
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
What are the signs of bronchiectasis on CXR?
Tram-track opacities
Ring shadows
What imaging is used for diagnosis of bronchiectasis?
High-resolution CT
What is the general management of bronchiectasis?
Vaccines
Physiotherapy to clear sputum
Long-term antibiotics
Bronchodilators
Oxygen therapy
Surgical resection
Lung transplant
What can be given for infective exacerbations of bronchiectasis?
Sputum culture first
Extended antibiotics course
Ciprofloxacin for Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Inhaled colistin for Pseudomonas aeruginosa
