Breathing machine may shield sickle cell kids from deadly lung crisis

This study looked at whether a breathing machine (non-invasive ventilation) could prevent acute chest syndrome, a severe lung problem, in children with sickle cell disease who are in the hospital for a pain crisis. The usual prevention method is spirometry, which requires the child to take deep breaths on their own, but that 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 was stopped early after enrolling only 6 participants.