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[Thalassemic syndromes and anesthesia]
1Servicio de Anestesiología y Reanimación, Hospital General de la Vall d'Hebron, Barcelona.
Thalassemic syndromes are produced by a quantitative defect in the synthesis of globin chains of hemoglobin. They are classified according to the severity of the clinical picture and to the type of globin chain that is affected. Physiopathology, clinical picture, and treatment of thalassemias are discussed in this work. Thalassemia minor does not create, in general, anesthetic problems. In cases of thalassemia major one should consider not only problems derived from the severity of the anemia it self, but also those related to transfusional therapy, and to bony malformations that may disturb tracheal intubation. Discussion on the management of homozygotic thalassemia during the pre, per, and postoperative phase completes this revision.
Thalassemic syndromes are produced by a quantitative defect in the synthesis of globin chains of hemoglobin. They are classified according to the severity of the clinical picture and to the type of globin chain that is affected. Physiopathology, clinical picture, and treatment of thalassemias are discussed in this work. Thalassemia minor does not create, in general, anesthetic problems. In cases of thalassemia major one should consider not only problems derived from the severity of the anemia it self, but also those related to transfusional therapy, and to bony malformations that may disturb tracheal intubation. Discussion on the management of homozygotic thalassemia during the pre, per, and postoperative phase completes this revision.