[Value of elective cholecystectomy in children with homozygote sickle cell anemia. Apropos of 3 recent cases].

Homozygous SS sickle cell anemia affects 0.25% of the population of the West Indies. Gallstones are frequently found in this blood disease and are the cause of recurrent abdominal pain, cholecystitis and dangerous infectious complications in these patients. These complications are difficult to distinguish from very frequent episodes of vaso-occlusive abdominal pain. Three cases in childhood sickle cell disease are reported. The authors believe that elective cholecystectomy is to be recommended (emergency cholecystectomy is associated with a high morbidity) as the children operated were improved by surgery, with resolution of abdominal pain.