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Bronchiectasis Research Paper

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Bronchiectasis is a chronic condition of the airways in which the lungs become ineffective at clearing out mucus. Oftentimes, the condition is brought on by another disease or infection that cause the airways to weaken, widen, or become flabby and scarred. The presence of mucus inside the airways can result in the production of infectious bacteria and a possibly fatal infection (Sutton 257). Currently, a single or double lung transplant is the only way to cure bronchiectasis (BE for short), but transplants of major organs can cause many complications – sometimes creating even more problems than they solve – and transplants are not very easily obtainable (What Is…?). Though there is still no true cure for bronchiectasis, research has discovered new advances that aid in the therapy of the condition, including mucoactive, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial therapy, all of which contribute toward a more efficient and more easily procurable means of treatment. Unfortunately for those affected, bronchiectasis has a …show more content…

There are airway clearing techniques and drainage exercises that involve laying on either side and performing various techniques, or using handheld devices to clear airways (Bronchiectasis Treatment, Nicolini et. al). The last form of physiotherapy is a technique known as high-frequency chest wall oscillation (HFCWO). Oftentimes, this is achieved by putting on a vest-like device that emits vibrations that cause the chest walls to “shake”, or oscillate. HFCWO has shown to be the most effective, and should be a “principal [option] in chest physiotherapy” (Nicolini et. al). In one three-month study, 20 patients all reported improvements in cough severity and quality in life through oscillatory chest therapy (Martínez-García & Soriano). Overall, chest physiotherapy offers promising results, but it is not clear whether these improvements are very

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