AI Article Synopsis
- Patients with hypogammaglobulinaemia often face bronchiectasis and persistent lung infections despite treatment.
- Surgical removal of infected lung segments showed positive results in four patients, with minimal complications and significant symptom relief.
- Resection is recommended for those with ongoing symptoms and localized infections that don't improve with medication.
Article Abstract
Background: Bronchiectasis and pulmonary infections are common in patients with hypogammaglobulinaemia. Despite intravenous gammaglobulin treatment and appropriate antibiotics, a subgroup of patients remains with persistent localised pulmonary infection in segments where bronchiectasis had developed before appropriate treatment. As such localised pulmonary suppuration (segmental or lobar) may serve as a focus for progression of bronchiectasis, surgical resection of the involved segments may be considered. The outcome of pulmonary resection in four such patients is reported.
Results: Surgery was well tolerated except for one postoperative empyema. Information on follow up is available from 3.5 to 5 years. All patients experienced considerable reduction of symptoms including cough, sputum production, antibiotic use, and hospital admissions.
Conclusions: Surgical resection of localised bronchiectatic segments should be considered in patients with hypogammaglobulinaemia with persistent localised suppuration and symptoms refractory to medical treatment.
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Source |
|---|---|
| http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC474876 | PMC |
| http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/thx.49.5.509 | DOI Listing |
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