Bma Illustrated Medical Dictionary

provoke an asthmaattack. The effect can
be reversed by a bronchodilator drug.
bronchodilator drugsA group of
drugs that widen the bronchioles (small
airways in the lungs) to increase air flow
and improve breathing, especially in
the treatment of asthmaand chronic
obstructive pulmonary disease (see pul-
monary disease, chronic obstructive).
There are 3 main types of broncho-
dilator: sympathomimetic drugs (such
as salbutamol), anticholinergic drugs,
and xanthine drugs (such as amino-
phylline). Sympathomimetic drugs are
used primarily for the rapid relief of
breathing difficulty. Anticholinergic and
xanthine drugs are more often used for
the long-term prevention of attacks of
breathing difficulty. Drugs can be given
by inhaler, in tablet form, or, in severe
cases, by nebulizeror injection.
The main side effects of sympatho-
mimetics are palpitations and trembling.
Anticholinergics may cause dry mouth,
blurred vision, and, rarely, difficulty in
passing urine. Xanthines may cause
headaches, nausea and palpitations.
bronchographyA rarely used X-ray
procedure for examining the bronchi,
the main air passages of the lungs.
Once used to diagnose bronchiectasis, it
has now been largely replaced by other
imaging techniques, such as CT scan-
ning, and by the use of bronchoscopy.

bronchopneumoniaThe most common

form of pneumonia; it differs from the

other main type of pneumonia (lobar

pneumonia) in that the inflammation is

spread throughout the lungs in small

patches around the airways, rather than

being confined to one lobe.

bronchoscopyExamination of the bron-

chi,which are the main airways of the

lungs, by means of an endoscopeknown

as a bronchoscope. There are 2 types of

bronchoscope: rigid and flexible. The

rigid type is a hollow viewing tube that

is passed into the bronchi via the

mouth and requires anaesthesia. The flex-

ible fibre-optic endoscope (a narrower

tube formed from light-transmitting

fibres) can be inserted through either

the mouth or nose. It can reach farther

into the lungs and requires only a mild

sedative and/or local anaesthesia.

Bronchoscopy is performed to inspect

the bronchi for abnormalities, such as

lung cancerand tuberculosis, to collect

samples of mucus, to obtain cells, and

for taking biopsyspecimens from the

airways or samples of lung tissue. Bron-

choscopy is used in treatments such as

removing inhaled foreign bodies, des-

troying abnormal growths, and sealing

off damaged blood vessels. The last 2

are carried out by laser treatment, dia-

thermy, or cryosurgeryby means of

bronchoscope attachments.

BRONCHODILATOR DRUGS BRONCHOSCOPY

B

ROUTE OF

BRONCHOSCOPE

BRONCHOSCOPY

Bronchoscope with

fibre-optic cable

Eyepiece to

view bronchi

Flexible

bronchoscope

Bronchus