Bronchiectasis

¹ Director of Research, Rose Lampert Graff Foundation, 444 North Bedford Drive, Beverly Hills, California.

It is evident that until recent times bronchiectasis was frequently diagnosed as pneumonia, tuberculosis, carcinoma, fungus disease of the lung, abscesses, or fibrosis from many causes. But with the methods for definite diagnosis now available, the true character of bronchiectasis is recognized early and suitable treatment may effect cures in a large percentage of patients. The most important conditions giving rise to bronchiectasis are the pneumonias following exanthematous diseases, aspiration of foreign bodies into the lung, and the presence of tumors or cysts which block bronchi, producing atelectasis.

The medical treatments are at best palliative, but sometimes patients may feel clinically well although the pathologic condition remains. Surgery offers positive cures, particularly for young patients. Thoracic surgeons are now available in all medical centers. At the present time, the mortality rate is low, and one should not hesitate to have a lobectomy or pneumonectomy done in suitable cases. The best type of clinic for the study and treatment of bronchiectasis is a chest service, where a chest physician, bronchoscopist, roentgenologist, and thoracic surgeon work as a team.