Patients exposed to blood products should receive hepatitis B vaccine. Sexual contacts or those exposed to blood should receive hepatitis B immune globulin and vaccine. The most important consideration in abdominal pain is that splenic sequestration be diagnosed early as above. Patients should also be taught to present for evaluation if they develop unusual abdominal pain, urinary, gynecologic symptoms. Patients with known gall stones need to be evaluated for changes in pain or jaundice.
Safe sex using barrier methods needs to be taught in the early teens.
Surgery and Anesthesia. Raven Press NewYork 1994. Barrett-Connor E. Cholelithiasis in sickle cell anemia. Sickle cell hepatopathy. Duodenal ulceration in sickle cell anemia.