SPLENECTOMY AND ACUTE SPLENIC SEQUESTRATION CRISES IN SICKLE-CELL DISEASE

Acute splenic sequestration crises (ASSC) is one of the complications of sickle cell disease (SCD) that can be life-threatening due to loss of blood volume. Over a 5-year period, we have treated 19 patients ran ging in age from 4 to 32 years with ASSC. There were 14 males and 5 fe males; 17 had homozygous SCD and the other 2 had sickle thalassemia. T wo patients presented with severe anemia and acute circulatory collaps e; 1 of them developed residual weakness of his limbs and decreased vi sual acuity. Nine patients underwent splenectomy after major episodes of sequestration while the remaining 10 had recurrent minor episodes o f sequestration. The clinical features and the role of splenectomy are discussed.