A patient with sickle anemia may have right-to-left shunting which can increase during sickle-related exacerbations.
Patient selection: sickle cell anemia
Analysis: bubble echocardiography
A right-to-left shunt may be associated with:
(1) patent foramen ovale
(2) intrapulmonary
Flow through the shunt may increase during:
(1) acute chest syndrome
(2) vaso-occlusive crisis
(3) pneumonia
The patient may experience transient hypoxia during episodes of increased shunt flow.
Differential diagnosis of hypoxia:
(1) pulmonary embolism
(2) pneumonia
(3) acute chest syndrome
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Specialty: Hematology Oncology
