1st January 2006
American College of Chest Physicians (ACCP) Expert Panel on the Diagnosis and Management of Cough
Summary,

GUIDELINE OBJECTIVE(S)

To present the evidence for the diagnosis and treatment of cough due to bronchiectasis, and to make recommendations that will be useful for clinical practice

TARGET POPULATION

Patients with cough due to bronchiectasis

INTERVENTIONS AND PRACTICES CONSIDERED

Diagnosis

1. Physical examination
2. Chest radiography
3. High resolution computed tomography chest scan (HRCT)

Treatment

1. Bronchodilators (including short-acting and long-acting beta-agonists, anticholinergics, leukotriene antagonists, and theophylline)
2. Mucolytic drugs
* Recombinant human DNase (rhDNase) (in patients with cystic fibrosis [CF])
3. Inhaled corticosteroids
4. Antibiotics
* Antibiotic treatment of exacerbations
* Aerosolized antipseudomonal antibiotics (in patients with CF)
5. Chest physiotherapy
6. Surgery

Interventions considered but not recommended include systemic corticosteroids and ibuprofen.

MAJOR OUTCOMES CONSIDERED

* Accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity of diagnostic tests
* Symptom improvement or resolution (cough, sputum production, and dyspnea)
* Progression of airway damage