Unnecessary surgical operations on an undiagnosed sickler in abdominal crisis: Case report

Abstract

This is a case of a child that presented with signs and symptoms of acute abdomen. There were scars from previous surgical operations on his abdomen following presentation with similar signs and symptoms suggestive of acute abdomen in two different hospitals. Furthermore, on careful physical examination some features of sickle cell anaemia were present. Blood was taken for laboratory investigations prior to commencement of intravenous 5% Dextrose-water. And lo! There was dramatic relief of his symptoms with a beam of smile on his face. Haemoglobin genotype revealed HbSS.