The Journal of the Louisiana State Medical Society : official organ of the Louisiana State Medical Society
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During a 12-year period, 59 patients with sickle cell disease underwent a total of 73 operative procedures. There was a total of 30 non-sickle-cell-related and 7 sickle-cell-related complications for an incidence of 41% and 10% respectively. There were no deaths. ⋯ A higher incidence of non-sickle-cell-related complications (46% versus 32%) was noted in the transfused group, with atelectasis being the most common complication (p = .29). The type of transfusion therapy did not influence morbidity, since the complication rates in the simple and exchange transfusion groups were similar. In conclusion, our data indicate that routine preoperative blood transfusion does not appear to be beneficial in the surgical sickle cell patient, since preoperative blood transfusions did not reduce the incidence of sickle-cell-related complications.