pulmonary disorders
Bronchiectasis
Key Points
In bronchiectasis, chronic inflammation from various causes destroys elastin, cartilage, and muscle in larger airways, resulting in irreversible damage and dilated airways that are chronically colonized by infectious organisms. Patients have chronic productive cough with intermittent acute exacerbations. Diagnosis is with imaging, usually CT; cultures should be done to identify colonizing organism(s). Prevent exacerbations using appropriate immunizations, airway clearance measures, and sometimes macrolide antibiotics. Treat exacerbations with antibiotics, bronchodilators, more frequent airway clearance measures, and sometimes corticosteroids. 