Could a breathing mask prevent lung crisis in sickle cell kids?

This study looked at whether a breathing machine (noninvasive ventilation) could prevent acute chest syndrome, a severe lung complication, in children with sickle cell disease who were hospitalized for a pain crisis and needed strong pain medicine. The standard prevention is spirometry, which requires the child to take deep breaths on their own, but this can be hard when they are in pain or asleep. The study planned to compare the two methods in children aged 6 to 20, but it was stopped early after enrolling only 6 participants.