Emergency treatment of sickle cell diseases in the Blood Diseases Department at the Koutoukou Maga National Teaching Hospital, Cotonou, Benin

Evolution of sickle cell disease is marked by the occurrence of acute complications, some of which are real emergencies that can give rise to life-threatening or functional cosequences. This study aims to evaluate the frequency and the evolution of emergency treatment of sickle cell disease in the Blood Diseases Department at the Koutoukou Maga National Teaching Hospital, Cotonou. We conducted a retrospective and descriptive study of all patients hospitalized for emergency treatment of sickle cell disease from January 2014 to December 2015. We excluded patients hospitalized for chronic sickle cell disease complications. Out of 813 hospitalizations, two hundred and four (204) emergency treatments of sickle cell disease were registered (prevalence 25%). The average age of our patients was 24.2 years. The most represented age group was 20-30 years (45.6%). Male sex predominated (60.8%). Pupils/students was the most represented group (55.9%). Acute pain was the primary reason for hospitalization to 63.7%. Normal homozygous individuals (SS) were mostly represented (72.1%). Osteoarticular vaso-occlusive complications predominated (70.1%). Documented infectious complications were dominated by malaria (27.5%). Decompensated anemia accounted for 30.4%. Therapeutic approach was based on hydration (85.3%). The average length of stay in hospital was 5.4 days. Outcome was favorable in 96,5% of cases. Mortality accounted for 2.5%. Emergency treatments of sickle cell disease are frequent. Early diagnosis as well as early and effective management are necessary. Ongoing training programs in emergency treatments of sickle cell disease are necessary to reduce mortality.