Episodes of acute chest syndrome may be precipitated by a number of triggers.
Precipitating factors may include:
(1) infection (bacterial, atypical agents, virus, asplenia)
(2) pulmonary vascular occlusion (venous thromboembolism, fat embolism, in situ thrombosis)
(3) hypoventilation/hypoxia (abdominal pain, thoracic bony infarction, opioids, over-sedation)
(4) pulmonary edema (fluid overload, opioids, pulmonary vascular injury)
(5) bronchospasm/asthma
Surgery and the post-operative state may involve several of these factors (hypoventilation, sedation, opioids, fluid overload).
