Trusted Resources: Evidence & Education
Scientific literature and patient education texts
Sickle cell pain in the emergency department
source: National Institute for Children’s Health Quality
year: 2015
summary/abstract:Sickle cell disease is characterized by unpredictable episodes of extreme pain, known as acute vaso-occlusive episodes (VOE) or pain episodes, caused when sickled red blood cells are unable to move freely through blood vessels. In addition to pain, these changes at the cellular level can also lead to organ damage, stroke and even death. Pain episodes are the most common reason for emergency department (ED) visits and hospitalizations for patients with sickle cell disease. Detailed guidelines and quality indicators for the management of pain episodes currently exist, but both pediatric and adult patients with the disease often experience prolonged periods of waiting for treatment in the emergency department and ineffective treatment of their pain.
Delays in treatment are often due to systemic factors, such as the lack of a clear treatment protocol or limited provider experience in treating sickle cell diseaserelated pain. Prolonged waits for effective pain relief can lead to unnecessary suffering, hospitalizations, chronic pain syndromes, other complications and increased health care costs.1,8,10-12 Ensuring patients receive timely, effective pain relief is one of the most important elements of delivering high quality care to individuals with sickle cell disease in the emergency department.
read more
Related Content
-
Updated Mechanisms Underlying Sickle Cell Disease-Associated PainSickle cell disease (SCD) is one of the ...
-
Chronic Opioid Use Pattern in Adult Patients with Sickle Cell DiseaseBackground: Pain, the hallmark complicat...
-
Vitamin D Supplements May Reduce Pain-related Emergency Room Visits in Children With SCDTaking vitamin D supplements may lower t...
-
SCDAA And MedicAlert Pilot Program ApplicationSCDAA and MedicAlert Pilot Program Impr...
-
Study Confirms Safe Use of Opioids for Pain Control in Sickle Cell DiseaseThe most common cause of hospital admiss...
-
When Cracking Down On Opioids Means Tougher Access For Sickle Cell PatientsMany people with sickle cell disease wil...
-
New treatment plan leads to better pain control for acute sickle cell crisisThere’s new hope for the 70,000 to 80,...
To improve your experience on this site, we use cookies. This includes cookies essential for the basic functioning of our website, cookies for analytics purposes, and cookies enabling us to personalize site content. By clicking on 'Accept' or any content on this site, you agree that cookies can be placed. You may adjust your browser's cookie settings to suit your preferences. More Information
The cookie settings on this website are set to "allow cookies" to give you the best browsing experience possible. If you continue to use this website without changing your cookie settings or you click "Accept" below then you are consenting to this.