Will a bronchiectasis patient die from coughing up blood?

Bronchiectasis and coughing up blood can threaten the patient's life. Therefore, for patients, once these diseases or symptoms of bronchiectasis appear, they must pay attention to them. Only if we pay attention to treatment and resolution can we reduce the threat to their lives.

Although bronchiectasis is a benign disease, respiratory symptoms may recur, such as coughing up thick sputum and hemoptysis. General medical treatment includes anti-infection, hemostasis, anti-asthmatic and expectorant. If the medical treatment is not effective and severe hemoptysis occurs, it may be life-threatening.

(1) Postural drainage: The affected lung is elevated and the opening of the drainage bronchus is pointed downward, allowing sputum to flow into the large bronchi and trachea and be expelled through coughing. If the lesion is in the lower lobe, the patient should lie prone with his chest close to the edge of the bed, support himself with his hands, and take deep breaths and cough up phlegm with his head down. You can pat your back at the same time to improve the drainage effect.

(2) Expectorants: They help restore the function of ciliary beats and thin the thick sputum, making it easier to cough up. Oral medications can be selected from the following drugs: bromhexine 8-16 mg, 3 times/d; ambroxol (Mucosolvan) 30 mg, 3 times/d; standard extract of Myrtaceae leaves (strong thinning mucin) 300 mg, 3 times/d; fresh bamboo juice (fresh bamboo juice) 10 ml, 3 times/d. You can also use nebulized inhalation of bromhexine 8 mg solution, or intravenous injection of bromhexine 8 mg or ambroxol 15-30 mg twice a day.

(3) Fiberoptic bronchoscopic drainage and expectoration: It is an effective treatment measure, especially for patients who cannot discharge sputum through postural drainage. During the operation, 1% epinephrine can be dripped into the bronchus to eliminate mucosal edema, relieve obstruction, and facilitate sputum discharge.

(4) Bronchodilators: Appropriate administration of bronchodilators can relieve airway spasms and facilitate sputum discharge, such as oral administration of aminophylline and agonists; inhaled receptor agonists can also be used.