Final answer:
Respiratory distress is a complication that may occur during a vaso-occlusive crisis, which is a blockage of blood flow by sickle-shaped red blood cells, potentially causing organ damage and severe pain.
Step-by-step explanation:
A complication that may occur during a vaso-occlusive crisis is respiratory distress. A vaso-occlusive crisis is a common painful complication of sickle cell anemia where the sickle-shaped red blood cells block blood flow through blood vessels. The blockage can cause severe pain and organ damage. Other possible complications during such a crisis include priapism, which is a prolonged and painful erection, and acute renal failure, which can occur due to the lack of blood flow to the kidneys. Unlike respiratory distress and renal failure, hyperglycemia, which refers to high blood sugar levels, is not typically a direct complication of vaso-occlusive crisis.