Can you have surgery with thalassemia?

Less common treatments for severe thalassemia include: A blood or bone marrow stem cell transplant. Surgery to remove the spleen.

Does thalassemia minor need treatment?

Mild forms of thalassemia trait don’t need treatment. For moderate to severe thalassemia, treatments might include: Frequent blood transfusions. More severe forms of thalassemia often require frequent blood transfusions, possibly every few weeks.

What should be avoided in thalassemia minor?

Nutritional deficiencies are common in thalassemia. It is recommended that patients going through blood transfusion should opt for a low iron diet. Avoiding iron-fortified foods like cereal, red meat, green leafy vegetables & Vitamin C-rich foods is the best option for thalassemic patients.

What is the treatment for α thalassemia minor?

Currently, the only cure for thalassemia is a procedure called a bone marrow transplant (also called a stem cell transplant). Bone marrow, which is found inside bones, produces blood cells. In a bone marrow transplant, a person is first given high doses of radiation or drugs to destroy the defective bone marrow.

Are there any anesthetic problems with thalassemia minor?

Thalassemia minor, in general, does not create anesthetic problems. In pts with thalassemia major, consideration has to be given to problems derived from the severity of the anemia itself, but also those related to transfusion therapy, and to bony malformations. Hemoglobin level should be determined and preop transfusion considered

What is the hallmark of β thalassemia minor?

β-thalassemia minor or β-thalassemia trait refers to patients with a single defect in the β-globin gene, causing reduced expression of the beta chains. Patients are mildly anemic, hypochromic, and microcytic. The hallmark of β-thalassemia minor is an HbEP with an elevated HbA2.

What kind of anemia does alpha thalassemia cause?

A thalassemia is an inherited blood disorder. It causes the body to make less hemoglobin than normal. There are 4 different types of alpha thalassemia. This condition causes mild to severe anemia, based on the type of alpha thalassemia that is inherited.

Can a baby with alpha thalassemia die before birth?

They can also get worse if you are exposed to certain medicines, chemicals, or infectious agents. Blood transfusions are often needed. You have a greater risk of having a child with alpha thalassemia major. Alpha thalassemia major. All 4 genes are missing. This causes severe anemia. In most cases, a baby with this condition will die before birth.