ABSTRACT

Globin chain defect which is responsible for thalassemia causes splenic sequestration by increasing the erythrocyte rigidity and decreasing the membrane stability. In order to avoid the splenic sequestration which abb-reviates erythrocyte life span, splenectomy is necessary in the early years of life. Some clinical abnormalities as well as splenic laceration may be the cause of maternal and fetal mortality and morbidity in thalassemia disease. We report a case of a pregnant patient with thalassemia who underwent an urgent splenectomy under general anaesthesia at 23. gestational week and caesarean section under epidural anaesthesia at 38. gestational week. We aim to submit prognosis of the newborn and discuss the light of the litarature.