RESUMO
The British Thoracic Society (BTS) Guidelines for Bronchiectasis in adults were published in January 2019, and comprise recommendations for treatment from primary to tertiary care. Here, we outline the practical implications of these guidelines for primary care practitioners. A diagnosis of bronchiectasis should be considered when a patient presents with a recurrent or persistent (>8 weeks) productive cough. A definitive diagnosis is made by using thin-section chest computed tomography (CT). Once diagnosed, patients should be initially assessed by a specialist respiratory team and a shared management plan formulated with the patient, the specialist and primary care teams. The cornerstone of primary care management is physiotherapy to improve airway sputum clearance and maximise exercise capacity, with prompt treatment of acute exacerbations with antibiotics.
Assuntos
Bronquiectasia/terapia , Modalidades de Fisioterapia/normas , Guias de Prática Clínica como Assunto , Atenção Primária à Saúde/normas , Sociedades Médicas , Cirurgia Torácica , Progressão da Doença , Humanos , Qualidade de Vida , Reino Unido , Adulto JovemRESUMO
The new British Thoracic Society (BTS) Guideline for Bronchiectasis in Adults has been published. This article provides a summary of key highlights of the new BTS Guideline and covers who to investigate, what investigations should be carried out and a management strategy.
Assuntos
Bronquiectasia/diagnóstico , Bronquiectasia/terapia , Adulto , Humanos , Equipe de Assistência ao Paciente , Guias de Prática Clínica como Assunto , Índice de Gravidade de DoençaRESUMO
The BTS pleural procedures audit collected data over a 2-month period in June and July 2011. In contrast with the 2010 audit, which focussed simply on chest drain insertions, data on all pleural aspirations and local anaesthetic thoracoscopy (LAT) was also collected. Ninety hospitals submitted data, covering a patient population of 33 million. Twenty-one per cent of centres ran a specialist pleural disease clinic, 71% had a nominated chest drain safety lead, and 20% had thoracic surgery on site. Additionally, one-third of centres had a physician-led LAT service.