ANAESTHETIC MANAGEMENT OF a PATIENT WITH SICKLE Β+ THALASSEMIA WITH CHOLELITHIASIS

Abstract

The clinical picture of Sickle cell disease (SCD) is remarkable for striking heterogeneity in presentation, progression and severity. The intermittent vaso-occlusive crisis and anemia due to chronic hemolysis often leads to acute to chronic pain and organ damage. Enhanced bile secretion in SCD with chronic hemolysis requiring multiple transfusions predisposes to the development of cholelithiasis. Sickle cell disease is quite common in the state of Chhattisgarh affecting mainly 10% of the population. We report the successful management of a 16 year old tribal girl diagnosed with sickle cell disease with β + thalassemia with cholelithiasis, who underwent cholecystectomy under general anesthesia. Anesthetists have to be extremely vigilant about the increased perioperative complications and device a careful strategy to prevent them, and in a worst scenario, manage them.