bronchiectasis

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bronchiectasis (bronk-i-ek-tă-sis) n. widening of the bronchi or their branches. It may be congenital or it may result from infection or obstruction. Pus may form in the widened bronchus so that the patient coughs up purulent sputum, which may contain blood. Treatment consists of antibiotic drugs to control the infection and physiotherapy to drain the sputum. Surgery may be used if only a few segments of the bronchi are affected.

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