Arch Otolaryngol
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Patients with sickle cell disease are recognized as having a relatively higher risk for postoperative complications, including fever, atelectasis, pneumonia, or sickle cell vas-occlusion. ⋯ Children with sickle cell disease presenting for elective tonsillectomy should be given a transfusion to a hemoglobin S ratio less than 40% in an attempt to reduce postoperative complications. Additional factors, such as age and presence of obstructive sleep apnea, only increase the potential risks.