Vaso-occlusive Crisis
(Sickle Cell Crisis)
What do you think is the difference
between the two blood vessels?
Objectives
-Define sickle cell crisis
-Explain its signs and symptoms
-Discuss the medical and nursing
management
-Present a nursing care plan
Introduction to
sickle cell crisis
a common, painful complication of
sickle cell disease. Where sickled
cells build up in a blood vessel and
cause a blockage. Which keeps
oxygenated blood from reaching
tissues and organs, resulting in
painful symptoms.
Signs and Symptoms
Reports shortness of
breath
Severe pain Fever
(39°C) - Feeling anxious
and stressed about
Warm, pale, and her condition
dry skin
Crackles in the
lower left lung
Medical Management
Pain Oxygen
• Management:
Diamorphine 5 mg IV every 4 Therapy:
• Oxygen via facemask at 5
hours or PRN for severe pain. L/min to manage hypoxia
• Acetaminophen 1g every 6 hours and support oxygen
for additional pain and fever saturation, especially due to
control. acute chest syndrome.
• Encourage use of pain scale
Monitoring &
monitoring to assess response.
Supportive Hydration:
• IV fluids (normal saline) to
Care: monitoring of vital signs,
• Continuous improve circulation and
oxygen saturation, and pain levels. reduce blood viscosity,
• Daily CBC, reticulocyte count, and helping to relieve vaso-
inflammatory markers. occlusion.
The nursing diagnosis
Acute chest syndrome due Bacterial infection due to
to vaso-occlusion in chronic infected foot
pulmonary circulation
ulcer and respiratory
evidenced by chest pain,
symptoms evidenced
shortness of breath, fever,
and crackles in the left by productive cough,
lower lobe on auscultation. fever of 39°C, elevated
neutrophil count
(10,000/mm³), and
Ineffective Breathing
delayed wound healing
Activity Intolerance Related
Pattern
Related to: chest pain and to: decreased oxygen-
respiratory infection As carrying capacity (anemia)
and fatigueAs evidenced by:
evidenced by: tachypnea
reports of weakness,
(RR 23/min), productive
dizziness, and shortness of
cough, and use of oxygen breath with minimal activity.
therapy.
Nursing Management
01
Pain 02
Oxygenation:
Management:
• Assess pain level regularly using a • Monitor respiratory rate, oxygen
saturation (SpO₂), and lung
numeric pain scale (0–10).
• Administer prescribed analgesics sounds.
(e.g., diamorphine, • Administer oxygen via facemask
acetaminophen) promptly. at 5 L/min as ordered.
03 04
Monitoring & Hydration &
Documentation:
• Document all nursing interventions,
Nutrition:
• Monitor IV fluid intake and urine
output.
patient responses, and changes in • Encourage oral fluid intake if
condition. tolerated.
• Regularly monitor vital signs, pain • Assess nutritional status and
level, lab results, and intake/output. appetite
Nursing care plan
Goal
-Reduce pain to a
Intervention
tolerable level
-Assess pain level
(≤3/10)
-Give analgesics
-Improve oxygenation
with oxygen
-Apply warm compress
therapy and
monitor
-Ensure rest and calm
environment
-Prevent infection by
treating the foot
-Monitor breathing and
ulcer
O2 saturation
References:
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/sickle-cell-crisis93.
Thank you for
your time
