Sickle Cell Crisis Research Paper

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Sickle Cell Crisis in Pregnancy Rosa McDonald Florida Gulf Coast University Submitted to Professor Craddock IHS 4504 Research Methods in Healthcare July 5, 2013 Abstract Sickle cell anemia is a type of inherited genetic blood disorder that causes the red blood cells to sickle (Myers and Eckes, 2012). There is no cure for patients with sickle cell anemia but there are things that can treat and possible prevent sickle cell crisis in pregnancy (Zach-Williams, 2007). Women with sickle cell disease have an increased chance of pregnancy complications and sickle cell crisis (Boulet, Okoroh, Azonobi, Grant, and Hooper, 2013). This review focuses on the causes, complications, diagnostic methods, and treatment. These studies reveal that pregnant…show more content…
Some of the common triggers for sickle cell crisis are fever, dehydration, stress, infection, hypoxia, bleeding, cold exposure, and drug and alcohol use. The immune system for people with sickle cell anemia is weakened which increases the likelihood of infection from flu viruses and bacteria which could lead to a fever. There are four different types of crises that are label based on the area of the body affected. They are bone, abdominal, chest, and joint crisis. During a sickle cell crisis, the pregnant person may present with severe unrelenting pain that is accompanied by nausea, vomiting, coughing up blood, diarrhea, or decreased range of motion of the affect extremity. This severe pain is an emergency and requires immediate treatment and…show more content…
Pregnant women are more likely to have complications because sickle cell anemia affects so many body systems. Some of the more life threatening complications are stroke, pulmonary hypertension, acute chest syndrome, and organ damage. A stroke can happen due to the sickle cells blocking the flow of blood to the brain which can lead to a seizure, slurred speech, loss of consciousness, and numb or weak legs and arms (Ernzen 1997). Acute chest syndrome can also be caused by the blocking of blood vessels in the lungs and make it very difficult for the pregnant women to breath which can prevent the baby from being properly
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