Open heart surgery in a patient with homozygous sickle cell disease

A child in heart failure with homozygous sickle cell disease underwent corrective surgery on cardiopulmonary bypass. The use of early intra-operative exchange transfusion produced a rapid fall in the level of HbS. Postoperatively she developed falciparum malaria which responded to treatment. She was eventually discharged home to Nigeria 8 weeks after her operation.