Editing Bronchiectasis (section)

=== Airway clearance ===
The goal of [[airway clearance therapy]] is to loosen secretions and interrupt the cycle of inflammation and infection.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Flude|first1=Lizzie J.|last2=Agent|first2=Penny|last3=Bilton|first3=Diana|date=June 2012|title=Chest physiotherapy techniques in bronchiectasis|journal=Clinics in Chest Medicine|volume=33|issue=2|pages=351–361|doi=10.1016/j.ccm.2012.02.009 |pmid=22640850}}</ref> [[Airway clearance technique]]s improve difficulty breathing, cough, and help patients cough up phlegm and [[Mucus|mucus plug]]s.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Hill|first1=Adam T.|last2=Barker|first2=Alan F.|last3=Bolser|first3=Donald C.|last4=Davenport|first4=Paul|last5=Ireland|first5=Belinda|last6=Chang|first6=Anne B.|last7=Mazzone|first7=Stuart B.|last8=McGarvey|first8=Lorcan|date=April 2018|title=Treating Cough Due to Non-CF and CF Bronchiectasis With Nonpharmacological Airway Clearance: CHEST Expert Panel Report|journal=Chest|volume=153|issue=4|pages=986–993|doi=10.1016/j.chest.2018.01.014 |pmc=6689075|pmid=29355548}}</ref> Airway clearance usually uses an inhaled agent ([[hypertonic saline]]) with [[chest physiotherapy]], such as [[Chest wall oscillation|high-frequency chest wall oscillation]].<ref name="Mc2013" /> Many airway clearance techniques and devices exist. The choice of a technique or device is based on the frequency and tenacity of phlegm, patient comfort, cost, and the patient's ability to use the technique or device with minimal interference to their lifestyle.<ref name=":2">{{Cite journal|last1=McIlwaine|first1=Maggie|last2=Bradley|first2=Judy|last3=Elborn|first3=J. Stuart|last4=Moran|first4=Fidelma|date=January 2017|title=Personalising airway clearance in chronic lung disease|journal=European Respiratory Review|volume=26|issue=143|pages=160086|doi=10.1183/16000617.0086-2016 |pmid=28223396|pmc=9488523 |doi-access=free}}</ref>
The [[Active cycle of breathing|active cycle of breathing technique]] (ACBT), which can be employed with or without a flutter device, is beneficial in treating those with bronchiectasis.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Athawale |first1=Vrushali |last2=Lalwani |first2=Lajwanti |last3=Mishra |first3=Gyanshankar |title=Comparison of the Active Cycle of Breathing Technique ( ACBT ) versus Active Cycle of Breathing Technique with Flutter in Bronchiectasis |journal=National Journal of Medical Research |date=2020 |volume=10 |issue=4 |pages=178–180 |doi=10.6084/M9.FIGSHARE.13727290 |url=http://njmr.in/home/download/828 |access-date=2021-09-05 |archive-date=2021-09-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210905062421/http://njmr.in/home/download/828 |url-status=dead }}</ref> [[Mucoactive agent|Mucolytic agents]] such as [[dornase alfa]] are not recommended for individuals with non-CF bronchiectasis.<ref name=Mc2013/> [[Mannitol]] is a hyperosmolar agent that is thought to hydrate airway secretions, however, clinical trials with it have not demonstrated efficacy.<ref name=":2" />