A patient diagnosed with sickle cell anemia is in severe pain. How would the nurse explain the etiology of this pain?
1. "You don't have enough red blood cells to carry oxygen to your tissues.".
2. "You have infection in your blood because your white blood cells are not working correctly.".
3. "Your red blood cells clog up the vessels and the tissues don't get oxygen.".
4. "You have too many red cells, so your blood is too thick.".
3
Rationale 1: The major etiology of pain in sickle cell anemia is not related to a decreased number of red blood cells.
Rationale 2: Sickle cell anemia is not related to changes in the white blood cells.
Rationale 3: Because of their sickled shape, the RBCs occlude vessels, causing ischemia to the tissues being supplied by the vessels. Ischemia results in pain.
Rationale 4: The pathology of sickle cell anemia does not include excess of red blood cells.
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