Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.
Bronchiectasis physical examination
Introduction
Overview
Overview
The most common signs of bronchiectasis are coarse crackles, rhonchi, and wheezes on auscultation.
Bronchiectasis Physical Examination
Bronchiectasis Physical Examination
The physical exam findings for bronchiectasis are as follows:[1]
General appearance
- Lethargy
- Weight loss
- Progressive functional loss
- Wasting
- Syncope with activity
- Children may not grow at a normal rate
Vital Signs
Vital signs are generally within normal limit, but patients with severe disease (massive hemoptysis or sepsis) may have the following vital signs:
- Decreased SPO2
- Fever
- Tachycardia
- Tachypnea
- Hypotension
Chest
- Course crackles
- These can be heard in early inspiration and often in the lower lung zones
- Rhonchi
- Wheeze
- Inspiratory squeaks
Heart
- Right ventricular hypertrophy (RVH)
- Heart murmurs
Abdomen
Skin
ENT
- Breath odor
- Increased jugular venous pressure
- Prominent neck and facial veins
Extremeties
- Digital clubbing
- Pedal edema
References
References
- ↑ O’Donnell, Anne E. (2008). “Bronchiectasis”. Chest. 134 (4): 815–823. doi:10.1378/chest.08-0776. ISSN 0012-3692.
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Hamid Qazi, MD, BSc [2], Saarah T. Alkhairy, M.D.