Bone Marrow Harvesting

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW:

• Bone marrow harvesting (BMH) is a procedure to remove bone marrow from a bone. Bone marrow is soft, spongy tissue inside your bones. It contains many kinds of blood cells, such as stem cells. Stem cells are able to become other cells, such as white or red blood cells. White blood cells help your body fight infection caused by germs called bacteria. Red blood cells bring oxygen to all parts of your body. Your bone marrow may be put back inside of you or put into someone else, such as a family member or stranger. This is called a bone marrow transplant.
  
  
• Your blood will be checked to make sure that it matches the person who is getting your marrow. You will also have other blood tests to check that you are healthy enough for the procedure. Bone marrow is usually removed from your hipbones or your sternum (chest bone) through a needle. BMH and a bone marrow transplant may help you or someone else make healthier blood cells. New bone marrow may help treat people with cancer, such as leukemia (cancer of the blood). It also may help people make more red blood cells. Healthier white blood cells may help people fight infection and be sick less often.

CARE AGREEMENT:

You have the right to help plan your care. Learn about your health condition and how it may be treated. Discuss treatment options with your caregivers to decide what care you want to receive. You always have the right to refuse treatment.

RISKS:

• You may need to have this procedure more than once. A needle may break inside of you during the BMH. After the BMH, you may feel more tired than usual. You may feel sick to your stomach or vomit (throw up). Your blood pressure may get low and you may feel dizzy. You may have a rash, bruising, infection, or numbness near the sites where the harvests are made. You may have trouble concentrating and it may be hard for you to sleep. Your body may feel stiff or limp and you may have trouble walking.
  
  
• You may have severe (very bad) pain in your hips, back, chest bone, and legs. You may lose too much blood and need a blood transfusion. Some of your blood vessels may become swollen. Bone tissue or air may travel through your body and block blood vessels in your heart, lungs, and brain. This could cause a heart attack, breathing problems, or a stroke and you could die. If you have cancer, it can get worse without BMH. It may be hard for your body to recover from other cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy. If you do not have the procedure, the person who needs your stem cells may get sicker or die. Call your caregiver if you have questions or concerns about your procedure, medicine, or care.

WHILE YOU ARE HERE:

Before your procedure:

• Informed consent: A consent form is a legal document that explains the tests, treatments, or procedures that you may need. Informed consent means you understand what will be done and can make decisions about what you want. You give your permission when you sign the consent form. You can have someone sign this form for you if you are not able to sign it. You have the right to understand your medical care in words you know. Before you sign the consent form, understand the risks and benefits of what will be done. Make sure all your questions are answered.
  
  
• IV: An IV (intravenous) is a small tube placed in your vein that is used to give you medicine or liquids.
  
  
• Antibiotics: This medicine is given to help treat or prevent an infection caused by bacteria.
  
  
• Blood thinners: This medicine helps prevent clots from forming in the blood. Blood thinners may be given before, during, and after a surgery or procedure. Blood thinners make it more likely for you to bleed or bruise. Use an electric razor and soft toothbrush to help prevent bleeding.
  
  
• Preparing for your procedure: You will be moved to the room where your surgery will be done and put on a special table. You will be placed on your stomach or back, depending on where the harvesting will be done. The harvesting sites will be washed and sheets will be put over you to keep you clean.
  
  
• Anesthesia: This medicine is given to make you comfortable. You may not feel discomfort, pressure, or pain. An adult will need to drive you home and should stay with you for 24 hours. Ask your caregiver if you can drive or use machinery within 24 hours. Also ask if and when you can drink alcohol or use over-the-counter medicine. You may not want to make important decisions until 24 hours have passed.
  
  
  • General anesthesia: Caregivers use this medicine to keep you asleep and free from pain during surgery. They give you anesthesia through your IV or as a gas. You may breathe in the gas through a mask or through a breathing tube placed down your throat. The tube may cause you to have a sore throat when you wake up.
    
    
  • Regional anesthesia: Medicine is injected to numb the body area where the surgery or procedure will be done. You will remain awake during the surgery or procedure.
    
    
  • Local Anesthesia: This is medicine to make you comfortable during your procedure. It is a shot of medicine put into your skin. It is used to numb the area and dull your pain. You may still feel pressure or pushing during your procedure.

During your procedure:

• Your caregiver puts a needle attached to a syringe into your hipbone or chest bone. A syringe is a tube that helps remove the bone marrow from your bones. Your caregiver suctions (pulls) your bone marrow through the needle into the syringe. The bone marrow is then put into a collection bag. Your caregiver puts the needle back into the same hole to make sure that he gets enough bone marrow. He also may put the needle into new nearby holes a few times each.
  
  
• Your caregiver may need to move the needle to another part of your bone to get more marrow. Your caregiver may turn you over to get marrow from the other side of your body. Bandages may be put on the sites where the harvests are made. If your caregiver decides that you need more blood, you will have a blood transfusion.

After your procedure:

You will be taken to a room where you can rest until you are fully awake. Caregivers will watch you closely for any problems. Do not get out of bed until your caregiver says it is okay. You may be allowed to go home or taken to your hospital room after your caregiver says it is okay.

• Bone marrow: Your caregiver may put your harvested bone marrow through mesh cloth to remove bits of fat, blood clots, and bone. If you have cancer, the bone marrow may be treated with radiation or chemotherapy to kill any cancer cells. Your bone marrow may be transplanted into someone else right away. It also may be frozen so that it may be used later by yourself or someone else.
  
  
• Blood tests: You may need blood taken for tests to check your red blood cells. The blood can be taken from a blood vessel in your hand, arm, or the bend in your elbow. Blood tests may be used to count your blood cells. They also may give your caregivers more information about your health condition.
  
  
• Medicines:
  
  
  • Antibiotics: This medicine is given to help treat or prevent an infection caused by bacteria.
    
    
  • Antinausea medicine: This medicine may be given to calm your stomach and to help prevent vomiting.
    
    
  • Iron medicine: Your caregiver may need to give you iron through your IV. Iron medicine may help your bone marrow make red blood cells.
    
    
  • Pain medicine: Caregivers may give you medicine to take away or decrease your pain.
    
    
    • Do not wait until the pain is severe to ask for your medicine. Tell caregivers if your pain does not decrease. The medicine may not work as well at controlling your pain if you wait too long to take it.
      
      
    • Pain medicine can make you dizzy or sleepy. Prevent falls by calling a caregiver when you want to get out of bed or if you need help.

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The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.

Learn more about Bone Marrow Harvesting (Inpatient Care)