Final answer:
Acute Chest Syndrome (ACS) is a complication of sickle cell disease that can cause inflammation and blockage of blood vessels in the lungs. The most common cause of death in ACS is a pulmonary embolism. Treatment includes oxygen therapy, antibiotics, and exchange transfusion.
Step-by-step explanation:
Acute Chest Syndrome (ACS) is a common complication in individuals with sickle cell disease. It is characterized by inflammation and blockage of the blood vessels in the lungs, leading to decreased oxygen supply. Pulmonary infarction, which is the death of lung tissue due to lack of blood flow, is a serious complication of ACS.
The most common cause of death in individuals with ACS is a pulmonary embolism, which occurs when a blood clot blocks one of the arteries supplying the lungs. This can lead to further decrease in oxygen supply and can be life-threatening.
Treatment for ACS includes providing supplemental oxygen (O2) to help improve oxygenation, administering antibiotics (Abx) to treat any underlying infections, and in severe cases, performing exchange transfusion to replace the sickled red blood cells with healthy red blood cells.