Sickle Cell Disease
Surgery
There is no surgical cure for sickle cell disease.
Some sickle cell disease complications are treated by surgery. These surgeries involve:
- Removing the spleen (splenectomy), to prevent the trapping of too many red blood cells in the spleen (splenic sequestration).
- Removing the gallbladder (cholecystectomy), to prevent problems caused by gallstones.
- Draining fluid from the penis in cases of severe priapism.
- Hip replacement, if the tissue in the hip breaks down and dies because it doesn't get enough blood (osteonecrosis).
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| Author: | Debby Golonka, MPH | Last Updated: December 9, 2008 |
| Medical Review: | Anne C. Poinier, MD - Internal Medicine Martin Steinberg, MD - Hematology | |
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