Bronchiectasis: The Disease
Bronchiectasis (dilated airways) is a condition resulting from infection or inflammation in the airways. When a person has bronchiectasis, the airways are permanently widened and inflamed. This condition results in increased mucus production, difficulty clearing the bacteria from the airways and predisposes individuals to recurrent infections.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, chronic aspiration, genetic (cystic fibrosis, primary ciliary dyskinesia, alpha1 antitrypsin deficiency) and autoimmune conditions (systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis), immunodeficiency syndromes (common variable immune deficiency), and infections (viral, bacterial, fungal and mycobacterial including nontuberculous mycobacteria) are the most common conditions associated with bronchiectasis.
Patients with bronchiectasis primarily complain of a productive cough, shortness of breath, wheezing and fatigue. Diagnostic evaluation typically includes a CT thorax, pulmonary function tests, microbiological, immune deficiency tests, genetic and autoimmune disease workup, and bronchoscopy when indicated. Treatment of the underlying culprit condition, bronchodilators, mucolytics, physiotherapy, lung surgery, and antibiotics if indicated are the main modalities of treatment.
If left untreated and unmanaged, the disease progresses resulting in worsening of symptoms, exacerbations and hospitalizations. Patients with bronchiectasis often get bacterial infections with multi-drug resistant organisms and nontuberculous mycobacteria requiring complex antibiotic regimens. Our team, experts in the diagnosis and management of bronchiectasis, are here to help.
Why the Montefiore Einstein Bronchiectasis & NTM Disease Program?
Our mission is to enable patients with bronchiectasis to gain control of their medical condition, delay progression, improve their quality of life, and minimize emergency room visits and hospitalizations. Using a multidisciplinary approach, our pulmonology, immunology and infectious disease experts, take pride in optimizing patient care by providing a comprehensive evaluation using state-of-the-art technology and a personalized treatment plan with the goal of improving health outcomes. We also closely collaborate with members of the Advanced Pulmonary Failure and Lung Transplant Program for lung transplant evaluation in patients with advanced disease.
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