UMEM Educational Pearls

Title: Acute Chest Syndrome

Category: Critical Care

Keywords: acute chest syndrome, blood transfusion, respiratory failure (PubMed Search)

Posted: 11/13/2007 by Mike Winters, MBA, MD (Updated: 11/22/2024)
Click here to contact Mike Winters, MBA, MD

Acute chest syndrome (ACS) is the leading cause of death in sickle cell patients
ACS is defined by the presence of a new infiltrate and one of the following: chest pain, wheezing, fever, tachypnea, or cough
Early and aggressive therapy is needed to minimize mortality
Up to 50% of patients develop respiratory failure
Treatment
- Broad spectrum antibiotics - including a macrolide
- Pain control to reduce hypoventilation
- Early use of blood transfusion to improve O2 carrying capacity
- Incentive spirometry
- Bronchodilators if wheezing present
- Hematology consult