Sickle Cell Anaemia

[masma]

Can anyone explain to me why it's dangerous for someone with SCA to have an operation. Thank you.

[LazyGun]

In people with sickle cell anaemia and to a lesser extent sickle cell trait, the key feature is a change in the shape and flexibility of the red blood cells.

Very often people with SCA can have a low grade chronic anaemia, which is not a good thing to have preoperatively.

This deformity in the red cells can lead to a range of acute and chronic crises. Key factors in this deformity of the red cells are hypoxia, acidosis and low core body temperture. Sickling of the red cells can lead to various crises, for example vaso occlusive disease, which in turn can cause organ damage, cerebrovascular events, or musculoskeletal pain etc.

Anaesthesia during surgery can be a cause hypoxia, acidosis and low core body temperature if not monitored very carefully.

[Sqad]

Superb answer by LazyGun.

Now after the Lord Mayor's Show......my answer LOL

Red cells in SCA extremely sensitive to oxygen lack which may occur during anaesthesia and they may well respond by swelling up and bursting, with unfortunate results.

Sorry Lazy.

[masma]

Thank you both for your answers - I couldn't understand why an operation on a young friend of mine was being put on hold, now I do. Thanks again, if I could give you both 4 stars I would x.