Splenic sequestration crisis in a child with sickle cell disease most likely leads to which acute complication?

Splenic sequestration crisis in a child with sickle cell disease most likely leads to which acute complication?

• A. Hypertension
• B. Jaundice
• C. Hypovolemic Shock
• D. Hypervolemia

Answer: (C)

Splenic pooling in a sequestration crisis causes acute hypovolemia. When sickled cells trap in the spleen, a large volume of blood is sequestered there, dramatically reducing the circulating blood volume. This drop in effective blood volume leads to poor tissue perfusion and can progress to hypovolemic shock if not treated promptly. Clinically, you’d see a sudden fall in hemoglobin with pallor, tachycardia, and signs of shock as perfusion worsens. Hypertension or hypervolemia aren’t expected in this scenario, and jaundice, while possible from ongoing hemolysis in sickle cell disease, isn’t the acute complication caused by the sequestration itself.

Splenic pooling in a sequestration crisis causes acute hypovolemia. When sickled cells trap in the spleen, a large volume of blood is sequestered there, dramatically reducing the circulating blood volume. This drop in effective blood volume leads to poor tissue perfusion and can progress to hypovolemic shock if not treated promptly. Clinically, you’d see a sudden fall in hemoglobin with pallor, tachycardia, and signs of shock as perfusion worsens. Hypertension or hypervolemia aren’t expected in this scenario, and jaundice, while possible from ongoing hemolysis in sickle cell disease, isn’t the acute complication caused by the sequestration itself.