Laparoscopic cholecystectomy in patients with Sickle Cell Disease

OBJECTIVE: To determine the safety and benefits of laparoscopic cholecystectomy as the standard surgical treatment for gallstones in patients with sickle cell anemia.

METHODS: Thirty-six sicklers and 111 non-sickler patients from the eastern province of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia who were admitted to Qatif Hospital between April 1994 and March 1998 for laparoscopic cholecystectomy, were prospectively compared for their clinical presentation, surgical management and long-term result.

RESULTS: Both groups were comparable from the clinical presentation point of view as well as the operative time. The incidence of choledocholithiasis was higher among the sicklers, which was managed successfully by endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatograph and endoscopic sphincterotomy. Minor postoperative complications were more common in sicklers, but were managed conservatively. There was no mortality in both groups and most of the sickle cell patients were relieved of their symptoms of gallstones.

CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is safe and is a beneficial surgical procedure for the management of cholelithiasis in patients with sickle cell anemia and not associated with increased major morbidity or mortality.