During the whole conditioning regimen, a spill kit and a cytotoxic extravasation kit remains at the patients house. At the completion of the cytotoxic chemotherapy regimen, patients have a break from treatment for a minimum of 24 hours prior to transplantation. On the day of the transplant patients arrive at the Apheresis Unit at a designated time. They receive IV antiemetics prior to the re-infusion of stem cells or bone marrow. The thawed stem cells or bone marrow are then re-infused into the patient via their venous access device.
All patients are free to return home at the completion of the transplant, once they feel well.
The care of the patient post transplantation is extremely important, as the patients imminent neutropenia will leave them susceptible to complications. Transplant patients are visited as early as possible in the day, and their first visit of the day may take up to an hour. During these visits a history and general assessment is completed. Daily blood specimens are collected via the venous access devices and taken back to the hospital. The patients oral mucosa and venous access device are inspected daily for signs of infection, redness or pain.