ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: As a result of good medical treatment, the life expectancy of patients with severe haemophilia is now approaching normal. This implies a growing need for treatment of lifestyle- and age-related disease. This article describes surgery in patients with severe haemophilia in the period 1997-2014. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Data were retrieved from the registry linked to the national treatment service for surgery, intervention and advanced diagnostics for haemophilia. The patients were categorised according to type of haemophilia and type of intervention in orthopaedic and non-orthopaedic surgical procedures. RESULTS: A total of 825 surgical procedures were undertaken in 286 patients. The number of procedures increased from 21 in 1997 to 66 in 2014. This increase was associated with non-orthopaedic interventions: altogether 4 such procedures were undertaken in 1997 and 45 in 2014. The number of orthopaedic interventions varied somewhat from year to year, but no clear trend was evident. INTERPRETATION: With increased life expectancy, we are seeing a growing need for treatment of diseases that are not causally related to haemophilia. Doctors with little experience of patients with severe haemophilia will need to deal with lifestyle- and age-related disease in this patient group.
