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Main Page Risk Factors Symptoms Diagnosis Treatment Screening Reducing Your Risk Talking to Your Doctor Living With Sickle Cell Disease Resource Guide

For Treating Complications

Surgical procedures that may be necessary to treat complications of sickle cell disease include:

  • Splenectomy —to remove a spleen destroyed by sickle cell disease or to try to prevent recurrent sickle cell crises (the evidence that this can help is still incomplete)
  • Hip replacement —to treat a hip destroyed by avascular necrosis
  • Gall bladder surgery —to remove a gall bladder that isn’t functioning properly
  • Laser eye surgery—for complications affecting your vision

Revision Information

This content is reviewed regularly and is updated when new and relevant evidence is made available. This information is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with questions regarding a medical condition.

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References

  • Cecil Textbook of Medicine . 22nd ed. W.B. Saunders Company; 2003.

  • National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute website. Available at: http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/ .

  • Owusu-Ofori S, Riddington C. Splenectomy versus conservative management for acute sequestration crises in people with sickle cell disease. Cochrane Database Syst Rev . 2002;(4):CD003425.

  • Sickle Cell Disease Association of America website. Available at: http://www.sicklecelldisease.org/ .

  • Weiner CM. Harrison’s Principles of Internal Medicine . 17th ed. New York, NY: McGraw – Hill; 2008.