Question

A 25-year-old man with known sickle cell disease presents with chest pain, fever, hypoxia and pulmonary infiltrates on chest X-ray. He is tachypnoeic and has a falling oxygen saturation despite oxygen therapy. What is the most appropriate management in addition to antibiotics and oxygen?

Accepted Answer

Exchange transfusion

Answer

High-dose NSAIDs alone

Answer

Simple oral analgesia and discharge

Answer

Long-term warfarin therapy

Answer

Immediate thoracotomy

Practice question

A 25-year-old man with known sickle cell disease presents with chest pain, fever, hypoxia and pulmonary infiltrates on chest X-ray. He is tachypnoeic and has a falling oxygen saturation despite oxygen therapy. What is the most appropriate management in addition to antibiotics and oxygen?