Bronchiectasis:
Bronchiectasis is a chronic irreversible distortion and dilation of the bronchi, and is usually a
secondary problem rather than a primary one that develops in patients with conditions such as
Cystic Fibrosis or COPD. Some cases may result from childhood infection, aspiration of foreign
bodies, or a congenital weakness in the bronchial wall. Depending on the cause, the condition may
be localised in one lobe, or more often it is diffused in both lungs (Van Meter and Hubert, 2014).
Bronchiectasis is thought to be uncommon. It's estimated around 1 in every 100 adults in the UK
have the condition (NHS, 2021).
Bronchiectasis occurs due to chronic inflammation and infection in the airways. Due to the repeated
inflammation, this leads to an obstruction of the airways and a weakening of the elastic fibres and
the muscle of the bronchial walls. Fibrous adhesions may pull outwards on the wall of the bronchus,
causing it to dilate, and due to the loss of elastic fibres, the bronchial wall is not able to recoil back
into its original shape. In the dilated or ballooning area, large amounts of fluid will constantly collect
and become infected. These common infections cause a loss of cilia and metaplasia in the
epithelium, additional fibrosis, and progressive obstruction. Mucociliary clearance is altered due to
the loss of cilia and therefore the cycle repeats.
Bronchiectasis is a chronic irreversible distortion and dilation of the bronchi, and is usually a
secondary problem rather than a primary one that develops in patients with conditions such as
Cystic Fibrosis or COPD. Some cases may result from childhood infection, aspiration of foreign
bodies, or a congenital weakness in the bronchial wall. Depending on the cause, the condition may
be localised in one lobe, or more often it is diffused in both lungs (Van Meter and Hubert, 2014).
Bronchiectasis is thought to be uncommon. It's estimated around 1 in every 100 adults in the UK
have the condition (NHS, 2021).
Bronchiectasis occurs due to chronic inflammation and infection in the airways. Due to the repeated
inflammation, this leads to an obstruction of the airways and a weakening of the elastic fibres and
the muscle of the bronchial walls. Fibrous adhesions may pull outwards on the wall of the bronchus,
causing it to dilate, and due to the loss of elastic fibres, the bronchial wall is not able to recoil back
into its original shape. In the dilated or ballooning area, large amounts of fluid will constantly collect
and become infected. These common infections cause a loss of cilia and metaplasia in the
epithelium, additional fibrosis, and progressive obstruction. Mucociliary clearance is altered due to
the loss of cilia and therefore the cycle repeats.
