What are the clinical manifestations of bronchopleural fistula?

Bronchopleural Fistula

Bronchopleural fistula is a pathological change in the bronchial position of the thoracic cavity. After the occurrence of bronchopleural fistula, patients are prone to dyspnea, excessive sputum, fever, respiratory distress, etc. Some patients are also prone to diseases in other parts of the body. After the occurrence of bronchopleural fistula, active medical treatment is required, and the diet should be mainly light and healthy.

What is Bronchopleural Fistula?

Bronchopleural fistula is an abnormal passage formed between the bronchus and the pleura. There are many causes, including tuberculous empyema, lobar pneumonia, lung abscess, and post-surgical infection. The causes include the erosion of chronic empyema pus near the lung tissue and perforation of the bronchus, or direct invasion of the lung lesion into the pleural cavity or rupture into the pleural cavity to form a fistula. It may also be caused by pleural puncture or surgical resection of the infected abscess cavity.

Manifestations of Bronchopleural Fistula

Clinically, bronchopleural fistula is mainly characterized by pleural effusion entering the respiratory tract through the bronchial fistula, causing frequent coughing and coughing up purulent sputum. The severity is related to the size of the fistula and the amount of pleural effusion. Changes in body position often affect the severity of symptoms. Any position that promotes the flow of pus into the bronchus through the fistula will exacerbate the symptoms of coughing and coughing up purulent sputum.

Daily Care for Bronchopleural Fistula

1. Continue to take antibiotics and therapeutic drugs.

2. Regularly recheck chest radiographs to understand the absorption of the abscess cavity and the deformity of the chest wall. This should be done monthly for the first six months.

3. Pay attention to strengthening nutrition, proper exercise, and reducing chest wall deformities.