People living with sickle cell disease can experience severe “pain crises”, or vaso-occlusive episodes (VOE), and are at increased risk for infections, strokes, heart failure, and other serious disease processes. When patients are out sickle cell present to the ED, it is crucial to initiate their evaluation and treatment as soon as possible. So what does this mean practically for us as clinicians? Hematologist and Sickle Cell expert, Dr. Bimpe Adesina, and Emergency Physician and researcher, Dr. Bryn Mumma, join us to explore this topic in depth. 

In part 1, we delved into assessment and management of patients presenting with VOE. In part 2, we spoke with Dr. Chris Rees about the benefits of early opioid pain control for kids presenting with VOE.  

In the final episode of our series we’re back with Dr. Mumma and Dr. Adesina to discuss the management of other emergent presentations related to sickle cell disease.

Did this episode change your practice? Let us know on social media @empulsepodcast or at ucdavisem.com

Hosts:

Dr. Julia Magaña, Associate Professor of Pediatric Emergency Medicine at UC Davis

Dr. Sarah Medeiros, Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine at UC Davis

Guests:

Dr. Oyebimpe Adesina, Assistant Professor of Hematology and Oncology and Co-Director of the Adult Sickle Cell Clinical Program at UC Davis

Dr. Bryn Mumma, Professor of Emergency Medicine and Leader of the Research Subcommittee of CARPE DIEM at UC Davis 

Resources:

ACEP Emergency Department Sickle Cell Care Coalition Resources

CHOP Emergency Department Clinical Pathway for Evaluation/Treatment of Children with Sickle Cell Disease with Fever

DeBaun MR, Jordan LC, King AA, et al. American Society of Hematology 2020 guidelines for sickle cell disease: prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of cerebrovascular disease in children and adults. Blood Adv. 2020 Apr 28;4(8):1554-1588. doi: 10.1182/bloodadvances.2019001142. PMID: 32298430; PMCID: PMC7189278..

Chou ST, Alsawas M, Fasano RM, et al. American Society of Hematology 2020 guidelines for sickle cell disease: transfusion support. Blood Adv. 2020 Jan 28;4(2):327-355. doi: 10.1182/bloodadvances.2019001143. PMID: 31985807; PMCID: PMC6988392.