For Treating Complications
Surgery may be needed to treat problems from sickle cell disease. This may be:
- Splenectomy—to remove a damaged spleen or try to prevent repeat sickle cell crises
- Hip replacement—to treat a hip destroyed by lack of blood flow
- Cholecystectomy —to remove a gallbladder that does not function well
- Laser eye surgery—for vision problems
References
Complications and treatments. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/sicklecell/treatments.html. Accessed January 29, 2021.
How is sickle cell disease treated? National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute website. Available at: http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/sca/treatment. Accessed January 29, 2021.
Pinto VM, Balocco M, et al. Sickle cell disease: a review for the internist. Intern Emerg Med. 2019;14(7):1051-1064.
Sickle cell disease. Kids Health—Nemours Foundation website. Available at: http://kidshealth.org/en/parents/sickle-cell-anemia.html. Accessed January 29, 2021.
Sickle cell disease in adults and adolescents. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: https://www.dynamed.com/condition/sickle-cell-disease-in-adults-and-adolescents. Accessed March 3, 2021.
Sickle cell disease in infants and children. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: https://www.dynamed.com/condition/sickle-cell-disease-in-infants-and-children. Accessed March 3, 2021.
Revision Information
- Reviewer: EBSCO Medical Review Board Marcin Chwistek, MD
- Review Date: 03/2020
- Update Date: 03/05/2021