Effect of prophylactic vitamin D on anesthetic outcome in children with sickle cell disease

BACKGROUND: Few previous studies proved that complications related to sickle cell disease (SCD) were common with regional anesthesia compared with general anesthesia while others reported no differences. This study was carried out to evaluate the role of prophylactic vitamin D on anesthetic outcome among male children with SCD undergoing circumcision. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A comparative study was carried out on 58 children undergoing circumcision with the regional block under light general anesthesia. The study sample was classified into two groups: one group received daily 400 IU vitamin D for 6 months before surgery while the other group without vitamin D. All patients were followed regarding the post-operative analgesia and the incidence of post-operative SCD related complications (acute chest syndrome, painful crisis and cerebrovascular accident). Data were analyzed with Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 13, produced by IBM SPSS, Inc. in Chicago, Illinois, USA. RESULTS: There was a highly significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.001) regarding first analgesic request and total analgesic consumption per day: there was delayed analgesic request and less total analgesic consumption per day in vitamin D group. Comparison of post-operative sedation scores showed highly significant difference (P < 0.001) between the two groups, Sedation scores was increased significantly in vitamin D group. This study also reported that the administration of vitamin D was associated with less noticeable post-operative SCD complications. CONCLUSION: The use of prophylactic vitamin D in SCD will result in delayed post-operative analgesic request and less total analgesic requirement. Administration of vitamin D was also associated with less post-operative complications.