Pathophysiology flow chart of imbalance) and hypoxemia.

Bronchiectasis

The pulmonary infection associate with the

inflammatory process damages the bronchial
wall, causing a loss of its supporting
structure and result in thick sputum that
ultimately obstruct the bronchi. The walls
become permanently distended and
distorted, impairing mucociliary clearance.
In saccular bronchiectasis each dilated
peribronchial tubes amount to a lung
abscess, the excudate of which drains freely
to the bronchus. Bronchiectasis is usually
localized affecting a segment or lobe of the
lung, most frequently the lower lobes. The
retention of the secretions and subsequent
obstruction ultimately cause the alveoli
distal to the obstruction to collapse
(atelectasis). Inflammatory scarring or
fibrosis replaces functioning lung tissue. In
the time patient develops respiratory
insufficiency with reduced vital capacity
decreased ventilation and an increased ratio
of residual volume to lung capacity. There is
impairment in the match of ventilation to
perfusion (ventilation – perfusion