Sickle Cell Anemia Nursing | Symptoms, Pathophysiology, Sickle Cell Crisis & Trait
RegisteredNurseRN・22 minutes read
Sickle cell anemia is a genetic disorder affecting red blood cells' shape, leading to anemia, with African Americans at higher risk, requiring careful monitoring and management to prevent complications like strokes and renal failure. Treatment for sickle cell crisis involves hydration, pain control, oxygen therapy, and preventive measures like vaccinations and avoiding stress to reduce the risk of complications.
Insights
- Sickle cell anemia is a genetic disorder where abnormal hemoglobin S causes red blood cells to change shape and stick together, leading to blockages in blood flow and anemia.
- Patients with sickle cell anemia require comprehensive care during crisis episodes, focusing on hydration, pain management, preventing infections, and monitoring for complications like organ damage and jaundice.
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Recent questions
What causes sickle cell anemia?
Abnormal hemoglobin S on red blood cells.
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Summary
00:00
Understanding Sickle Cell Anemia: Causes and Care
- Sickle cell anemia involves abnormal hemoglobin S on red blood cells, sensitive to low oxygen levels, causing them to change shape and stick together, potentially blocking blood flow to organs.
- Patients with hemoglobin S experience sickle cell crisis due to the abnormal shape of their red blood cells, leading to anemia as these cells break down faster than normal red blood cells.
- Sickle cell anemia is a homozygous disease inherited from both parents, with patients typically showing signs and symptoms at a young age, like fussiness, pain, fever, and swelling in extremities.
- Sickle cell anemia is an autosomal recessive genetic disorder, requiring both parents to pass on the abnormal hemoglobin S gene for the child to have the disease.
- African Americans have a higher risk of sickle cell anemia, with one in twelve carrying the sickle cell trait, increasing the likelihood of passing it on to offspring.
- Testing for sickle cell anemia includes newborn screening and amniotic fluid testing, with the thionite test identifying abnormal hemoglobin, while hemoglobin electrophoresis confirms the disease.
- In sickle cell crisis, factors like blood loss, illness, infection, stress, dehydration, elevated temperature, and extreme temperature changes can trigger episodes due to low oxygen levels.
- Sickle cell crisis can lead to vaso-occlusive events, hemolytic crisis, aplastic crisis, and spleen sequestration, impacting blood flow to organs and increasing the risk of complications like strokes and renal failure.
- Signs and symptoms of sickle cell crisis include jaundice from rapid red blood cell breakdown, along with nursing interventions focusing on hydration, pain management, infection prevention, and monitoring for complications.
- Nursing care during sickle cell crisis involves addressing dehydration, managing pain, preventing infections, and monitoring for complications like organ damage and jaundice.
15:19
Managing Sickle Cell Anemia: Key Strategies
- Hydration is crucial for patients with sickle cell anemia to dilute the blood, improve renal function, and alleviate pain.
- Providing additional oxygen can help stressed red blood cells in sickle cell patients.
- Pain control, including around-the-clock opioid medications and warm compresses, is essential for managing the severe pain associated with sickle cell crisis.
- Elevating extremities, monitoring respiratory status, and avoiding restrictive items are key in managing symptoms like dactylitis and ischemia.
- Treatment for anemia in sickle cell patients includes blood transfusions, folic acid supplements, and monitoring for increased heart rate and pallor.
- Preventive measures for sickle cell crisis involve vaccination, avoiding high altitudes, staying hydrated, managing stress, and taking prophylactic penicillin.
