Sickle Cell Stuff

Question 1

Types of sickle crises (5)

Answer 1

Thrombotic/vaso-occlusive/painful
Acute chest syndrome
Anaemic: aplastic & sequestration
Infection

Question 2

Triggers of thrombotic crises

Answer 2

Precipitated by infection, dehydration & deoxygenation

Question 3

Acute chest clinical picture

Answer 3

SOB, chest pain
Low pO2
Pulmonary infiltrates on CXR

Question 4

Acute chest Mx

Answer 4

Pain relief
Resp support - O2 therapy
Antibiotics
Transfusion - improves O2

Question 5

Aplastic anaemia triggers

Answer 5

parvovirus B19 infection/“Slapped Cheek syndrome”

Question 6

Aplastic crises Ix findings

Answer 6

Reduced Hb & retic count
Pancytopenia - low Hb, low WCC, Low PLT count

Question 7

General Principles of Sickle-cell Mx

Answer 7

Pain relief - opiates
rehydration
Oxygen
Antibiotics (if infection)
Blood transfusion (indications: severe/symptomatic anaemia, pregnancy, pre-op)
Exchange transfusion (indications: acute thrombotic crisis)