title: Laparoscopic Splenectomy Alone for Sickle Cell Disease: Account of 50 paediatric cases.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In Oman, the most frequent indication for a splenectomy in children is sickle cell disease (SCD), which is one of the most common haematological disorders in the Gulf region. This study aimed to describe paediatric laparoscopic splenectomies alone for SCD at a tertiary hospital in Oman.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study was conducted between February 2010 and October 2015 at the Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, Muscat, Oman. The medical records of all children aged ≤15 years old undergoing splenectomies during the study period were reviewed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 71 children underwent laparoscopic splenectomies during the study period; of these, 50 children (28 male and 22 female) underwent laparoscopic splenectomies alone for SCD. The children's weight ranged between 11-43 kg. The most common indication for a splenectomy was a recurrent splenic sequestration crisis (92%). Surgically removed spleens weighed between 155-1,200 g and measured between 9-22 cm. Operative times ranged between 66-204 minutes and intraoperative blood loss ranged between 10-800 mL. One patient required conversion to an open splenectomy. Postoperative complications were noted in only four patients. The median hospital stay duration was three days.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Among this cohort, the mean operating time was comparable to that reported in the international literature. In addition, rates of conversion and postoperative complications were very low. These findings indicate that a laparoscopic splenectomy alone in paediatric patients with SCD is a feasible option.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, Muscat, Oman.
authors.forename: Zainab N
authors.initials: ZN
authors.lastname: Al-Balushi
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, Muscat, Oman.
authors.forename: Khalid M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Bhatti
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, Muscat, Oman.
authors.forename: Muhammad T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Ehsan
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, Muscat, Oman.
authors.forename: Yousuf
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Al-Shaqsi
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, Muscat, Oman.
authors.forename: Nawal A R
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Al-Sharji
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesia & Intensive Care, Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, Muscat, Oman.
authors.forename: Hatem A A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Mady
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, Muscat, Oman.
authors.forename: Mahmoud H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Sherif
keywords: Laparoscopy; Oman; Pediatrics; Sickle Cell Disease; Splenectomy