Laparoscopic cholecystectomy in 427 adults with sickle cell disease: a single-center experience

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is common in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. Patients with this disease have an increased risk for gallstones. Cholecystectomy is the most common general surgical procedure performed in patients with SCD. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) is the standard treatment for symptomatic gallstones. To date, only small series of LC in adults with SCD have been reported. We report a large series of LC in these patients.

A retrospective study included all adults with SCD who underwent LC for symptomatic gallstones at King Fahad Hospital, Hofuf, Saudi Arabia, during a 13-year period. Data analyzed were patient demographics, preoperative blood transfusion, duration of operation, rates of conversion and morbidity, and length of hospital stay.

There were 427 patients; 56% were women with a mean age of 21 years. Blood transfusion was used in 393 patients (92%). Nineteen patients (4.5%) had endoscopic extraction of common bile duct (CBD) stones before LC. Overall, conversion to open surgery was necessary in 21 patients (5%). However, the conversion rate significantly decreased from 9% in the first half of the study to 2% during the second half (p < 0.001). The mean operation time was 76 min. There were 31 complications (7%), mostly related to SCD. There was no mortality, and the mean hospital stay was 2.6 days.

Provided that standard perioperative care is ensured and the procedure is performed by experienced surgeons, LC in adults with SCD results in low rates of conversion and morbidity, no mortality, and a short hospital stay.