The Process of Transplants
For all transplants, there is a basic procedure. The transplant doesn't just "happen" or they don't go immediately into the operating room. The doctors have to prepare for the operation and also at the same time think about the patients recovery. Here are the steps the doctors must take to complete a transplant.
The patients are given a central venous line, or another vein line, so they can avoid using needles to get nutrition. The line is inserted using anesthetic and a process known as x-ray guidance. Once the line is inserted, it it used for medication, nutrition, transfusions (such as the transplant itself), hydration, and to take blood samples. Most patients eventually are grateful for the convenience of the line, even thought they aren't used to it at first . Not all patients have the same type of line put in. There are several different types, including the two most popular, the Hickman line and the Poracath. You will have a line put in that matches up with your blood and vein lines. Though this line is important, some patients have it put in but never use it, because the doctors realize that the line really isn't necessary due to the patients problems and conditions.
2.The next phase is the conditioning phase which is actually part of the transplant. The patients then receive high-dose chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy. This ablates, or stops, the immune system and marrow functioning. Some transplant centers start the patient's conditioning even if the patient isn't staying overnight, but most transplant centers say the patient must be staying overnight before they can start conditioning. Depending on the patients conditions, The patients may be allowed a rest day before the transplant. The conditioning can be different in the case of a 'mini' transplant.
'Day Zero' counts as the transplant. The donors cells are fed into the area that the patient needs the transplant in through the patient's central venous line. If you are experiencing mini transplants, the actual transplant will be much shorter and you may leave later that day instead of staying overnight. A mini transplant is a smaller organ like skin or tissue that needs to be transplanted.
Engraftment, or the re-building of the immune system and bone marrow functioning is the next step of a transplant. After the transplant, as the donor's cells move towards the hollow places in the bodies larger bones. If this step is completed and all goes well, the donor's cells should start to rebuild part of the patients body and produce healthy blood cells (these include red cells, white cells, and platelets). Earlier studies report that patients who receive blood stem cells will 'engraft' a week sooner than patients who had bone marrow transplanted. This will reduce the risks of infection and being in the hospital longer than needed.
The recovery process is the long, tough, and tiring, part of the transplant. If your doctor has set a plan in place for recovering, you must follow through with a positive attitude. If you are a patient still recovering your immune system you should stay away from large crowds, other sick people, and uncooked or undercooked foods.
The follow-up of the patient is also an important part. After about five years, most medical professors would say that the patients are now disease free. Many tests are taken afterwards to test if the engraftment stage has really worked. One common test is to test a certain line of DNA (whichever the engraftment stage had effected). This will determine whether the patients body has accepted the new part. Some more tests include the FISH test, which determines how far along the engraftment stage is and the PCR test which is used to test DNA. These tests will slowly fade out of your life as you progress with your engrafting. One of the doctor's pieces of advice is to enjoy your second chance of life!