Atrial septal defect closure on cardiopulmonary bypass in a sickle cell anemia: role of hydroxyurea and partial exchange transfusion.

Partial exchange transfusion during cardiopulmonary bypass, while conducting cardiac surgery may be a useful technique in patients with high level of sickle hemoglobin. Along with this preoperative use of hydroxyurea and alternative analgesic modalities such as transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation in postoperative period may be beneficial, in our opinion. A 16-year-old female of Turner's syndrome having sickle cell anemia scheduled for closure of arterial septal defect on cardiopulmonary bypass was managed with partial exchange transfusion and warm cardioplegia.