sickel cell crisis

ckh23, BSN, RN · Apr 11, 2012

Oxygen. Remember sickle cell is a disease that effects the hemoglobin of the RBC. When cells sickle they cannot carry much oxygen and decrease tissue oxygenation. Also when oxygen level is lowered, it causes more cells to sickle. So while hydration is important in crisis treatment, the first priority should be oxygenation which as Ashley pointed out only takes a few seconds.

Here is an excerpt from PubMed:

Sickle cell anemia is caused by an abnormal type of hemoglobin called hemoglobin S. Hemoglobin is a protein inside red blood cells that carries oxygen. Hemoglobin S changes the shape of red blood cells, especially when the cells are exposed to low oxygen levels. The red blood cells become shaped like crescents or sickles.

The fragile, sickle-shaped cells deliver less oxygen to the body's tissues. They can also get stuck more easily in small blood vessels, and break into pieces that interupt healthy blood flow.

Tuesday17 · Apr 12, 2012

I too, was taught oxygen first, hydration and then pain relief :-)

diana2520 · Apr 12, 2012

after doing my research on this, i have come to an understand that the key word is paying attention to how the question is worded. sickle cell has about 7 crisis...example
vaso- occlusive crisis hops hydration, oxygen, pain, support-which includes bed rest, exchange transfusion, warm compresses
splenic sequestration: more common in children
i checked and compared with various sources and they pretty much state the same. so it is definitely abc if the client is having respiratory distress..other wise i will stick with hydrate unless kaplan, saunders, cram prep, fuere, hurst are all wrong. hydration as marlene hurst stated is what will stop the sickling. thanks for all your help
excuse all the misspelled words, dont have much time to check, gotta study :)

thanks for all the help , i really appreciate, i have researched this and i will go by how i understood sickle cell., as stated above. i really appreciate you all taking the time.