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Bronchiectasis
Can bronchiectasis be treated with nebulization?
Patients with bronchiectasis can undergo nebulized inhalation, and nebulized inhalation has a very good therapeutic effect for the treatment of bronchiectasis. Commonly used nebulized medications include budesonide suspension and terbutaline nebulizer solution, among others. These medications work to dilate the bronchi and relieve airway spasms. For patients with excessive phlegm, these treatments can promote expectoration. They are also very effective for patients with bronchiectasis-caused breathing difficulties. Furthermore, there is now literature proving that inhaling budesonide suspension has a good anti-inflammatory effect on lower respiratory tract infections and helps in the absorption of inflammation.
Can bronchiectasis be cured?
Bronchiectasis refers to the deformation and persistent dilation of the bronchi due to various inflammations and fibrosis in the patient's bronchi and surrounding lung tissue, which destroys the surrounding muscles and elastic tissues. Bronchiectasis is treatable, and usually, symptomatic treatment and fundamental treatment targeting the cause can be employed. Symptomatic treatment involves anti-infection treatment for infections caused by the dilation. If the patient produces a large amount of phlegm, treatments to facilitate expectoration can be given. Additionally, if the patient's dilated bronchi repeatedly cause coughing, expectoration, and hemoptysis, and if internal medical treatment is ineffective, part of the dilated bronchi can be surgically removed to achieve therapeutic goals.
Symptoms of bronchiectasis
Bronchiectasis exhibits many symptoms, but the most common are chronic cough and sputum production. The amount of sputum in bronchiectasis can vary greatly from person to person, and to some extent, it can reflect the severity of the condition. Some patients may have significant coughing and sputum production, with sputum amounts reaching over one hundred milliliters per day. In others, the condition may be more stable, with only a few milliliters of sputum per day. Additionally, patients with bronchiectasis may experience hemoptysis, which often recurs and can manifest as blood-streaked sputum, minor bleeding, or sudden severe bleeding. Significant bleeding can be particularly dangerous, potentially leading to death within minutes. Bronchiectasis can also cause recurrent lung infections and chronic long-term infection, which may be accompanied by fever, fatigue, loss of appetite, weight loss, anemia, and other symptoms.
How to cure bronchiectasis?
Bronchiectasis is caused by chronic suppurative inflammation and fibrosis of the bronchi and the surrounding lung tissue, damaging the muscles and elastic tissues of the bronchial walls, leading to deformation and permanent dilation of the bronchi. Bronchiectasis is chronic in formation, thus once diagnosed, it is incurable. Prevention is very important. The main cause of recurrent episodes of bronchiectasis is infection, so preventing infections is crucial. It is advised to consume a high-quality protein diet, participate in appropriate physical activities, and get annual vaccinations for influenza and pneumonia to prevent infections.
How is bronchiectasis treated?
The treatment of bronchiectasis mainly includes medical treatment and surgical treatment. Medical treatment primarily aims to control infection and promote the drainage of sputum. Antibiotics are crucial for controlling infections, initially based on empirical therapy. Adjustments can be made accordingly if results from sputum culture and drug sensitivity tests are available. Secondly, to promote sputum drainage, we can use postural drainage or mechanical vibration to expel sputum. Expectorant medications such as ambroxol and bromhexine, or nebulized inhalation therapy may also be utilized. Thirdly, bronchodilators can be used to relieve asthma symptoms and ease the patient's discomfort. If the patient has hemoptysis, hemostatic treatment should be provided. Surgical treatment is primarily considered for patients with localized bronchiectasis and when medical treatment is ineffective, in which case surgical resection may be considered.
The manifestations of bronchiectasis
Bronchiectasis refers to the destruction of bronchial wall tissues caused by chronic inflammation of the bronchi and surrounding lung tissues. The lumen undergoes irreversible dilation and deformation. Some patients have a history of recurrent respiratory tract infections, mainly presenting with chronic coughing and coughing up large amounts of thick sputum. Many patients have a history of repeated hemoptysis, although the amount of blood is usually small. There can be blood in the sputum or slight bleeding, and it can also manifest as a large amount of blood, potentially life-threatening. In the affected areas, fixed and persistent localized wet rales can be heard.
The first choice for the diagnosis of bronchiectasis
For the diagnosis of bronchiectasis, we can rely on the symptoms of the patients such as chronic cough, coughing up large amounts of purulent sputum, repeated hemoptysis, and history of lung infections. Physical examination of the lungs may reveal fixed and persistent localized wet crackles. For auxiliary examinations, we can combine X-ray and CT scans to find imaging changes consistent with bronchiectasis and make a diagnosis. The preferred method for a definitive diagnosis of bronchiectasis is high-resolution CT, and the diagnosis can be made based on the results of a high-resolution CT scan.
How to check for bronchiectasis?
How to check for bronchiectasis: generally, corresponding physical examinations and laboratory tests are used for diagnosis. Early physical examinations may not show positive signs. When the condition is severe or secondary bacterial infection occurs, fixed and persistent moist rales can be heard in the affected areas. Some patients may show signs of oxygen deficiency, such as clubbing and cyanosis. During acute infections, routine blood tests will show increased white blood cell counts and neutrophil counts. Sputum examination may reveal elastic fibers and pus cells. A chest X-ray can show thickened and disordered lung periphery, and typical lesions may appear as honeycomb-like curly shadows.
Is bronchiectasis easy to treat?
Bronchiectasis is a complication mainly caused by chronic inflammation of the respiratory tract and is clinically difficult to treat. Symptoms can be alleviated through certain medications or physical manipulations. First, it's important to maintain clear airways and choose medications that can dilute mucus. During the acute phase of inflammation, antibacterial drugs should be chosen for treatment, such as penicillin, which can be administered via muscle injection or intravenously. Surgery is the only curative treatment for bronchiectasis. (Medication use should be based on specific circumstances and under the guidance of a doctor.)
How long can one live with bronchiectasis?
This question is actually very difficult to answer because no doctor can predict exactly how long their patient will live. They can only provide a general prognosis of the disease. Bronchiectasis is relatively a benign condition. The prognosis for most patients depends mainly on the severity of the bronchiectasis and their comorbidities, among other factors. Generally, if a patient’s bronchiectasis is not very severe and mild, and does not affect lung function or is not compounded by other underlying diseases, they might experience long-term, recurrent coughing and sputum production, requiring long-term hospitalization. However, if they do not experience acute complications associated with bronchiectasis, such as asphyxiation caused by hemoptysis, then actually they can live for a long time. There are many patients who are in their seventies or eighties and frequently admitted to the hospital. When asked how long they have had bronchiectasis, their condition might span over forty or fifty years, or even longer. This means that patients with bronchiectasis can live for a long time, provided their condition is relatively stable and they don’t suffer from acute complications such as severe bleeding or asphyxiation. However, if the bronchiectasis is severe, or unfortunately, even if the bronchiectasis isn’t very severe, if a patient suffers from major hemoptysis, it can cause asphyxiation rapidly leading to death within minutes. Therefore, it is impossible for doctors to predict exactly how long each patient will live.