Skip to main content
British Medical Journal logoLink to British Medical Journal
. 1972 Dec 9;4(5840):596–598. doi: 10.1136/bmj.4.5840.596

Anaesthesia in Sickle-cell States: A Plea for Simplicity

K A Oduro, J F Searle
PMCID: PMC1786847  PMID: 4643397

Abstract

505 patients with various haemoglobinopathies were given a general anaesthetic between January 1970 and February 1972. One patient with haemoglobin SC disease and one patient with sickle-cell trait (HbAS) died postoperatively. Four other patients who were sickling positive, but whose genotypes were unknown, died, one from sickle-cell crisis precipitated by haemorrhage.

A simple anaesthetic technique together with good postoperative care can provide safe general anaesthesia for patients with sickle-cell states. A plea is made for simplicity in the anaesthetic management of these patients.

Full text

PDF
596

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. BROWNE R. A. ANAESTHESIA IN PATIENTS WITH SICKLE-CELL ANAEMIA. Br J Anaesth. 1965 Mar;37:181–188. doi: 10.1093/bja/37.3.181. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Desforges J. F. Treatment of sickle crisis. N Engl J Med. 1971 Apr 15;284(15):913–915. doi: 10.1056/NEJM197104222841612. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. GREENBERG M. S., KASS E. H. Studies on the destruction of red blood cells. XIII. Observations on the role of pH in the pathogenesis and treatment of painful crisis in sickle-cell disease. AMA Arch Intern Med. 1958 Feb;101(2):355–363. doi: 10.1001/archinte.1958.00260140187028. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Gilbertson A. A. Anaesthesia in West African patients with sickle-cell anaemia, haemoglobin SC disease, and sickle-cell trait. Br J Anaesth. 1965 Aug;37(8):614–622. doi: 10.1093/bja/37.8.614. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Gilbertson A. A., Ball P. A., Watson-Williams E. J. The management of anaesthesia in sickle cell states. Proc R Soc Med. 1967 Jul 7;60(7):631–636. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. HUGH-JONES K., LEHMANN H., MCALISTER J. M. SOME EXPERIENCES IN MANAGING SICKLE-CELL ANAEMIA IN CHILDREN AND YOUNG ADULTS, USING ALKALIS AND MAGNESIUM. Br Med J. 1964 Jul 25;2(5403):226–229. doi: 10.1136/bmj.2.5403.226. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Kong H. H., Alleyne G. A. Acid-base status of adults with sickle-cell anaemia. Br Med J. 1969 Aug 2;3(5665):271–273. doi: 10.1136/bmj.3.5665.271. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Konotey-Ahulu F. I. Anaesthetic deaths and the sickle-cell trait. Lancet. 1969 Feb 1;1(7588):267–268. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(69)91287-2. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. McCurdy P. R., Mahmood L. Intravenous urea treatment of the painful crisis of sickle-cell disease. A preliminary report. N Engl J Med. 1971 Oct 28;285(18):992–994. doi: 10.1056/NEJM197110282851803. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. NUNN J. F., PAYNE J. P. Hypoxaemia after general anaesthesia. Lancet. 1962 Sep 29;2(7257):631–632. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(62)92541-2. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Nalbandian R. M., Anderson J. W., Lusher J. M., Agustsson A., Henry R. L. Oral urea and the prophylactic treatment of sickle cell disease--a preliminary report. Am J Med Sci. 1971 Jun;261(6):325–334. doi: 10.1097/00000441-197106000-00003. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Oduntan S. A. Blood gas studies in some abnormal haemoglobin syndromes. Br J Haematol. 1969 Dec;17(6):535–541. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2141.1969.tb01404.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Oduntan S. A., Isaacs W. A. Anaesthesia in patients with abnormal haemoglobin syndromes: a preliminary report. Br J Anaesth. 1971 Dec;43(12):1159–1166. doi: 10.1093/bja/43.12.1159. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Oduro K. A. Anaesthesia in Ghana. A review with particular reference to the indigenous medical conditions. Anaesthesia. 1969 Jul;24(3):307–316. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2044.1969.tb02869.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. SCHENK E. A. SICKLE CELL TRAIT AND SUPERIOR LONGITUDINAL SINUS THROMBOSIS. Ann Intern Med. 1964 Mar;60:465–470. doi: 10.7326/0003-4819-60-3-465. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. Treatment and prevention of sickle-cell crisis. Lancet. 1971 Dec 4;2(7736):1255–1256. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from British Medical Journal are provided here courtesy of BMJ Publishing Group

RESOURCES