Breathing patterns during vaso-occlusive crisis of sickle cell disease.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the effect of sickle cell pain and its treatment on patients' breathing patterns, and to compare the effect of thoracic cage pain to pain at other sites.


METHODS
Prospective, observational study.


METHODS
Sickle Cell Center Day Hospital.


METHODS
Twenty-five patients with sickle cell disease admitted to the Sickle Cell Center Day Hospital for treatment of vaso-occlusive crisis (VOC) [10 patients with chest (thoracic cage) pain].


METHODS
Breathing patterns were measured by respiratory inductive plethysmography. Tidal breathing data, including respiratory rate, tidal volume (VT), minute ventilation, and the rib cage contribution to VT, were collected at baseline and then following treatment with opioid analgesia.


RESULTS
The patients with chest pain had smaller V(Ts) at baseline than those with pain at other sites (355 +/- 37 mL vs 508 +/- 141 mL, p = 0.003), and higher respiratory rates (23.2 +/- 8.2 breaths/min vs 17.6 breaths/min, p = 0.03). These differences became insignificant following opioid treatment. Six patients had respiratory alternans (four patients in the chest pain group, and two patients with pain at other sites). All cases of respiratory alternans resolved following opioid administration.


CONCLUSIONS
Patients with VOC and chest pain have more shallow, rapid breathing than patients with pain elsewhere. Analgesia reduces these differences. As pain-associated shallow breathing and maldistribution of ventilation may contribute to the pathogenesis of acute chest syndrome, these results support the need for adequate pain relief and monitoring of ventilatory patterns during the treatment of VOC.
Needleman
Joshua P
JP
Department of Pediatrics, Montefiore Medical Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10467, USA. joshneed@aol.com
Benjamin
Lennette J
LJ
Sykes
Joseph A
JA
Aldrich
Thomas K
TK
D000328:Adult; D000755:Anemia, Sickle Cell / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009294:Narcotics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010146:Pain / Q000145:classification / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D010991:Plethysmography; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012119:Respiration; D012120:Respiration Disorders / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D013990:Tidal Volume
D009294:Narcotics