Bronchiectasis Pathophysiology - Surgical Treatment of Bronchiectasis

What is Bronchiectasis?

Bronchiectasis is a lung problem characterized by dilatation of the lung’s airways, known as bronchi and excessive mucus production and it may caused by the congenital factor, mucus blockage or various infections. Large amount of mucus occur which is difficult to clear thus secretion becomes infected and therefore sometime it causes to the chronic cough and produce sputum due to this inability to clear secretion efficiently.

Causes of Bronchiectasis

• Respiratory infections like pneumonia, tuberculosis which causes to the damage of airways may cause to the Bronchiectasis.
• Blockage of the airways due to any reason may cause this disease.
• Bronchiectasis may occur because of cystic fibrosis.
• Some disease like Primary Ciliary Dyskenesia, Kartenager’s Syndrome, etc which affect to the cilia may cause this disease.
• Inhalation of noxious chemical is also result in Bronchiectasis.

Symptoms of Bronchiectasis

• Produced chronic mucus with foul-smelling.
• Cough with blood
• Fatigue
• Breathing shortness
• Weight loss
• Chest pain and joint pain
• Wheezing
• Ulcerative colitis, rheumatoid arthritis, and infertility ( rare)

Treatment of Bronchiectasis

• Intravenous immunoglobulin or intravenous alpha1-antitrypsin therapy is very effective for whole treatment.
• Antibiotics and chest physiotherapy are main treatment of this disease.
• Bronchodilators, corticosteroid therapy, dietary supplementation are suggested essential for this disease.
• Oxygen or surgical therapies are useful
• In severe case patient should hospitalised and should be treated with intravenous antibiotics, bronchodilators, aggressive physiotherapy.