How is bronchiectasis treated?

Written by Li Tao
Pulmonology
Updated on September 25, 2024
00:00
00:00

Bronchiectasis refers to the deformation and dilation of the bronchi due to chronic inflammation and fibrosis of the bronchi and surrounding lung tissue, which damages the muscles and elasticity of the bronchial walls. Clinically, this condition is known as bronchiectasis. The most typical symptoms include long-term coughing, coughing up large amounts of purulent sputum, and repeated instances of coughing up blood among others. Once bronchiectasis is diagnosed, it needs to be treated: First, we can clear the secretions from the bronchi, usually through nebulization to thin the mucus, and bronchoscopy or other local irrigation methods to clear the secretions inside. Second, after bronchiectasis occurs, we need to perform anti-inflammatory treatment for the bacteria infesting the bronchi, usually using sensitive antibiotics for treatment. Third, it is necessary to enhance the patient’s own immunity to prevent frequent recurrent infections. Fourth, if conservative treatment is not effective, surgical methods can be used to remove parts of the dilated bronchi, thereby achieving the treatment purpose.

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Wang Xiang Yu
Pulmonology
1min 51sec home-news-image

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.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Li Jian Wu
Pulmonology
40sec home-news-image

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.)

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Wang Xiang Yu
Pulmonology
1min 3sec home-news-image

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.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Yang Feng
Pulmonology
50sec home-news-image

What medicine is used for bronchiectasis?

Bronchiectasis is particularly common clinically. The choice of medication for bronchiectasis needs to be determined based on the specific conditions of the patient. Generally, the aggravation of bronchiectasis is caused by recurrent infections, so controlling infections is fundamental in treatment. As for the application of antibiotics, the principle we follow is to select medications based on the different bacterial spectrums in different regions, with the most scientific method being the use of sensitive antibiotics identified through sputum bacterial culture and drug susceptibility tests. Additionally, we also use expectorants like ambroxol and bromhexine. If there is concurrent respiratory distress or a decline in lung function, inhalants such as budesonide-formoterol powder may also be used.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Yang Feng
Pulmonology
43sec home-news-image

Is bronchiectasis serious?

First, we need to properly face the disease of bronchiectasis. Many patients with bronchiectasis are like normal people, without any clinical manifestations. Therefore, if these patients lead a regular life, it does not affect their quality of life or survival rate, so they are not considered severe cases. However, some patients experience repeated infections that worsen and may involve coughing up blood and progressive decline in lung function. These cases are relatively severe. Nevertheless, we can intervene effectively to slow the progression of the disease. Therefore, the severity varies among different patients with bronchiectasis.