ABSTRACT
As surgery in sickle cell patients is associated with high morbidity, this study aimed to establish the safety of minimally invasive surgery in this high-risk group. The study included 41 sickle cell patients underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy [LC] for cholelithiasis, three patients had asymptomatic gallstones and preoperative gastroscopy and endoscopic retrograde cholangiography were performed in nine and eight patients, respectively. Twenty-six patients were given simple transfusions, while three received partial exchange transfusions. The mean operative time was 10 minutes and the conversion rate was 4.8%. There were 14.6% postoperative complications, the majority of which were respiratory and wound related and the median hospital stay was 2.5 days. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is safe in patients with sickle cell hemoglobinopathy who are particularly at risk of developing pigmented gallstones. Therefore, the use of minimally invasive surgery is encouraged in any sickle cell patient undergoing operative intervention with the advantages of short postoperative analgesia requirement, shorter hospitalization and remarkable reductions in perioperative morbidity