Breathing machine may prevent lung crisis in sickle cell kids

This study tested whether a breathing machine (non-invasive ventilation) could prevent acute chest syndrome, a severe lung complication, in children with sickle cell disease who were hospitalized for severe pain and needed strong pain medicine. The standard prevention is deep-breathing exercises, but pain and sleep can make that hard. The study planned to compare the machine to the exercises, but it was stopped early after only 6 children enrolled.