What is the connection between atelectasis and sickle cell anemia?

Risk for acute chest: If someone with sickle cell disease is not taking or able to take deep breaths (due to pain crisis, for example), atelectasis (collapsing of tiny air sacs of lung). When this happens, atelectatic areas of the lung become deoxygenated, leading to more sickling and more pain. This cycle can ramp up and eventually cause acute chest syndrome. Good pain management to allow for deep breaths is essential.