Transplant - bone marrow

Ideally, bone marrow transplant lengthens the life of a patient who would otherwise die. Relatively normal activities can be resumed as soon as the patient feels well enough, and after consulting with the doctor.

Other significant problems with a bone marrow transplant are those of all major organ transplants -- the finding of a donor, and the cost. The donor is frequently a sibling with matching tissue. The more siblings the patient has, the more chances there are of finding a matching donor.

The hospitalization period is from 4 - 6 weeks, during which time the patient is isolated and under strict monitoring because of the increased risk of infection. The patient will require attentive follow-up care for 2 - 3 months after discharge from the hospital. It may take 6 months to a year for the immune system to fully recover from this procedure.

Images

Bone marrow from hip

Bone marrow aspiration

Formed elements of blood

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Bone marrow transplant Prevention

Review Date: 10/30/2006
Reviewed By: William Matsui, MD, Assistant Professor of Oncology, Division of Hematologic Malignancies, The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins, Baltimore, MD. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)