Cholecystectomy in sickle cell anemia patients: perioperative outcome of
364 cases from the National Preoperative Transfusion Study. Preoperative
Transfusion in Sickle Cell Disease Study Group
CM Haberkern, LD Neumayr, EP Orringer, AN Earles, SM Robertson, D Black, MR Abboud, M Koshy, O Idowu and EP Vichinsky
Department of Anesthesiology, University of Washington, Seattle, USA.
Cholecystectomy is the most common surgical procedure performed in sickle
cell anemia (SCA) patients. We investigated the effects of transfusion and
surgical method on perioperative outcome. A total of 364 patients underwent
cholecystectomy: group 1 (randomized to aggressive transfusion) 110
patients; group 2 (randomized to conservative transfusion) 120 patients;
group 3 (nonrandomized nontransfusion) 37 patients; and group 4
(nonrandomized transfusion) 97 patients. Patients were similar except group
3 patients were more likely to be female, over 20 years old, smokers, and
more healthy by American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status
score. Total complication rate was 39%: sickle cell events 19%;
intraoperative or recovery room events 11%; transfusion complications 10%;
postoperative surgical events 4%; and death 1%. Group 3 patients had the
highest incidence of sickle cell events (32%). Open cholecystectomies were
performed in 58% and laparoscopic in 42%. Laparoscopic patients were
younger and more healthy by ASA score. Laparoscopic patients had longer
anesthesia time (3.2 v 2.9 hours), but shorter hospitalization time (6.4
days v 9.8). Complications were similar between these two groups. We
conclude that SCA patients undergoing cholecystectomy have a high
perioperative morbidity, and the incidence of sickle cell events may be
higher in patients not preoperatively transfused. We recommend a
conservative preoperative transfusion regimen, and we encourage the use of
the laparoscopic technique for SCA patients undergoing elective
cholecystectomy.
Volume 89,
Issue 5,
pp. 1533-1542,
03/01/1997
Copyright © 1997 by The American Society of Hematology