Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Harvesting In Children

What is peripheral blood stem cell harvesting?

• Peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) harvesting is a procedure that removes stem cells from your child's blood. Stem cells are created in your child's bone marrow. Bone marrow is soft, spongy tissue inside bones. Stem cells are able to become other cells, such as platelets, white blood cells, or red blood cells. Platelets are blood cells that help stop bleeding by sticking together to form a clot. White blood cells help your child's body fight infection caused by germs called bacteria. Red blood cells bring oxygen to all parts of your child's body. Stem cells may become healthy cells that replace cells that are damaged from sickness.
  
  
• Stem cells removed from your child's blood may be put back into your child or someone else. When the stem cells are put back into your child's body, it is called an autologous transplant. When the stem cells are put into someone else's body, it is called an allogenic transplant. Ask your child's caregiver for more information about stem cell transplants. New stem cells may help your child or someone else make healthier blood cells. Healthy blood cells may help your child or someone else recover faster after chemotherapy (chemo) cancer treatment. Stem cells also may help treat diseases such as cancer and bleeding problems.

Why might my child have peripheral blood stem cell harvesting?

Your child might have PBSC harvesting if he has chemo. While treating cancer, chemo may kill some of your child's healthy blood cells. This may make him more likely to get an infection or other blood problems. Having stem cells harvested and then returned to his body may help your child create new blood cells faster. Your child also may donate stem cells to a sick family member or someone else.

What happens before peripheral blood stem cell harvesting?

Your child's caregiver will examine your child and ask about his health history. He may ask about diseases or surgeries your child has had in the past. If your child is donating his stem cells to someone else, his caregiver will check your child's blood type. Your child's caregiver may check your child's blood for viruses such as hepatitis and HIV. Before harvesting, your child's caregiver will give him medicine to increase the number of stem cells in his blood. Your child may need to take this medicine for about a week before the procedure.

What happens during peripheral blood stem cell harvesting?

• Your child will be moved to the room where the procedure will be done. The room may have games, toys, and a TV to help your child relax. You and other family members may be asked to stay with your child during the procedure. You may be able to help your child stay calm during the procedure.
  
  
• Your child's caregiver will put a central line into your child's body. A central line is a tube put into a large blood vessel, often near your child's neck or collarbone. The end of the tube will be attached to a harvesting machine. During the procedure, blood will go through the tubing then into the machine. The machine will remove stem cells from your child's blood and collect them into a plastic bag. The machine will then send your child's blood back into his body. The procedure may last several hours to make sure enough stem cells are harvested from your child's blood.

What happens to my child's stem cells after they are harvested?

Your child's stem cells will be sent to a lab and tested to make sure they are healthy. The stem cells may be kept frozen or stored in a refrigerator until they are transplanted.

What are the risks of peripheral blood stem cell harvesting?

• The procedure may not harvest enough stem cells and your child may need to have the procedure again. Your child may get an infection where the central line entered his body. During the procedure, your child may have an allergy to the medicine put in the tube to prevent his blood from clotting. The medicine that helps stem cells move into your child's blood may cause him to have bone pain. Both medicines may cause your child to have a fever (high body temperature) or chills. He also may get a headache, nausea (feeling sick to his stomach), or a rash. Your child may get a blood clot, feel dizzy, or have trouble breathing. During the procedure, your child may have very bad bleeding and need a blood transfusion.
  
  
• During the procedure, too much blood may be in the harvesting tube or machine outside of your child's body. Not enough blood in his body may cause your child to have less energy, feel dizzy, faint, or have a seizure (uncontrolled shaking). During the procedure, your child may have damage to his body organs, such as his liver, spleen, or heart. He may die from some of these problems. If your child does not have this procedure, he may not have enough healthy blood cells in his body. If your child has cancer, he may be less likely to recover after chemo treatment. Without the procedure, he or someone who needs his stem cells may become more sick or die. Call your child's caregiver if you have questions or concerns about his procedure, medicine, or care.

Where can I find support and more information?

You and your child may feel worried or scared about what may happen during the stem cell harvesting. Your child may feel sad for the person needing the transplant. He may feel like it is his fault if the stem cell harvesting or transplant did not work. These feelings are normal. Talk to your child about his feelings. Talk to caregivers, family, or friends about your own feelings. You also may contact either of the following:

• Blood and Marrow Transplant Information Network, BMT InfoNet
  2310 Skokie Valley Road, Suite 104
  Highland Park , IL 60035
  Phone: 1- 888 - 597-7674
  Web Address: http://www.Bmtnews.org
  

• National Marrow Donor Program
  3001 Broadway Street NE, Suite 100
  Minneapolis , MN 55413-1753
  Phone: 1- 888 - 999-6743
  Web Address: http://www.marrow.org
  

Care Agreement

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

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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.

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