Bone marrow transplant

Alternative names:

transplant of the bone marrow

Expectations after surgery:

Bone marrow transplant prolongs 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. However, vigorous physical activities should be avoided.

The other significant problems with a bone marrow transplant are those of all major organ transplants--finding a donor and the cost of the surgery. The donor is usually a sibling with compatible tissue. The more siblings the patient has the more chances to find the right donor.

Convalescence:

The hospitalization period is from 4 to 6 weeks, during which time the patient is isolated and under strict monitoring because of the increased risk of infection. Move the legs often to reduce the risk of deep venous thrombosis. The patient will require attentive follow-up care for 2 to 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.