Bronchiectasis

CAUSES

Congenital

Acquired

  • childhood infections (whooping cough, pneumonia, measles)
  • local disease (foreign body, adenoma, Tb)
  • allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (proximal bronchiectasis)

CLINICAL FEATURES

History

  • chronic cough
  • purulent sputum

Examination

  • fever
  • cachexia
  • sinusitis
  • cyanosis
  • clubbing
  • sputum: voluminous, purulent, foul smelling, blood stained
  • coarse inspiratory crackles over effected lobe
  • cor pulmonale

INVESTIGATIONS

  • ABG
  • CXR
  • spirometry
  • CT chest

MANAGEMENT

Specific

  • broad spectrum antibiotics (covering potential multi-resistant organisms)
  • physio
  • suction
  • postural drainage
  • lung protective strategy

General

  • nutrition

CCC 700 6

Critical Care

Compendium

Chris is an Intensivist and ECMO specialist at The Alfred ICU, where he is Deputy Director (Education). He is a Clinical Adjunct Associate Professor at Monash University, the Lead for the  Clinician Educator Incubator programme, and a CICM First Part Examiner.

He is an internationally recognised Clinician Educator with a passion for helping clinicians learn and for improving the clinical performance of individuals and collectives. He was one of the founders of the FOAM movement (Free Open-Access Medical education) has been recognised for his contributions to education with awards from ANZICS, ANZAHPE, and ACEM.

His one great achievement is being the father of three amazing children.

On Bluesky, he is @precordialthump.bsky.social and on the site that Elon has screwed up, he is @precordialthump.

| INTENSIVE | RAGE | Resuscitology | SMACC

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