Bone Marrow Transplant in India

What is Bone Marrow Transplant?

A bone marrow transplant is a medical treatment performed to replace bone marrow that has been damaged or destroyed by infection, disease, or chemotherapy. The technique involves transplanting blood stem cells, which travels to the bone marrow, where they generate new blood cells and enhance new bone marrow growth.

Things you need to know

• Bone marrow transplant is performed through two procedures- Autologous (own stem cells are used) and Allogeneic (donor's stem cells).
• Bone Marrow Transplant is performed under the influence of anaesthesia.
• The procedure takes about 1 to 2 hours.
• You will be required to stay in the hospital for about 15 to 20 days followed by a few more days of rest
• Your average length of stay will be around one month.

How Treat India helps you to find the best healthcare facility in India?

Seeking and providing specialized treatment abroad has an increasing trend, offering specialized medical services and packages for procedures directed at foreign patients and clients. Combining the accessibility of medical services with the medical staff's professional experience, India is among the countries that have become a preferred destination for medical tourists. The modest cost and quality of care encourage people to come to India to get life-altering procedures, life-saving treatments, or surgeries performed.

Intending to be a navigator in the digital world of healthcare, Treat India has brought a new approach in the provision of medical services from select healthcare facilities and laboratories, singled out according to special criteria such as good medical practice, modern equipment and well-acclaimed specialists.

We aim to provide Indian and foreign patients with access to excellent healthcare services and the ease of making a faster and more knowledgeable decision about their health needs.

With hundreds and thousands of options to choose from, it becomes rather challenging to make your decision. With a curated list of around 101 Hospitals & Clinics and 95 doctors & surgeons, Treat India is your ultimate guide to finding quality treatment in India.

We provide you with access to the top surgeons and physicians specializing in Bone Marrow Transplant to give you a hassle-free experience and help you make an informed decision, ensuring the right optimization of your time and finances.

Connect with us to know more about your treatment and how we plan your medical journey with our experts.

How to prepare for the treatment?

• Before the bone marrow transplant, you will have to undergo various tests to determine which type of bone marrow cells you need.
• The doctor may also suggest that you undergo radiation or chemotherapy to kill off all cancer cells or marrow cells before getting new stem cells.
• Usually, bone marrow transplants take up to a week. You may have to make some arrangements before your transplant session.
• During your treatment, the body's immune system gets compromised, thus affecting your body's ability to fight infection. You may have to stay in a special section of the hospital reserved for people receiving bone marrow transplants. This will help in reducing your risk to any exposure that may cause infection.

Procedure involved

• You will have the bone marrow transplant when the doctor thinks that you are ready for it. The procedure is very much similar to a blood transfusion.
• If you are having an allogeneic transplant, the doctor will harvest bone marrow cells from your donor a day before or two before your procedure.
• If your own stem cells are being used for transplant, they will be taken out from the stem cell bank.
• Your heart and blood pressure status will be checked, and a healthcare professional will start an intravenous (IV) line in your arm, and anaesthesia will be given. During a bone marrow harvest, cells are gathered from both hip bones through a needle.
• During leukapheresis, a donor is given five shots to ease the stem cells travel from the bone marrow and into the bloodstream. Blood is then collected through an intravenous (IV) line, and a machine separates the white blood cells that have stem cells.
• A needle called a central venous catheter, or a port will be inserted on the upper right portion of your chest. This enables the fluid encompassing the new stem cells to circulate directly into your heart.
• The stem cells then circulate throughout your body and flow through your blood and into the bone marrow. They will become established there and begin to grow in that place.
• Because the bone marrow transplant is carried out over several sessions for a few days, the port is left behind in the same place.
• Multiple sessions give the new stem cells the best chance to assimilate themselves into your body. That process is known as engraftment.
• Through this port, you will also get blood transfusions, liquids, and probably nutrients. You may require medications to ward off infections and help the new marrow grow. This depends on how successfully you deal with the treatments.
• During this time, you'll be scrupulously monitored for any complications.

What to expect after the treatment?

• The success of bone marrow depends on how closely the donor and the recipient genetically match each other. It also becomes challenging to find a good match among the unrelated donors.
• The doctor will regularly monitor the state of your engraftment. After the initial transplant, it will be completed between 10 and 28 days. When the body vitals show a rise in white blood cells counts, it indicates that the transplant is starting to make new blood cells.
• A recovery time for a bone marrow transplant is about three months. It may take up to a year for you to fully recover after bone marrow.

Potential risks that you need to know about:

Some of the risks associated with bone marrow transplants are:

• a drop in blood pressure
• a headache
• nausea
• pain
• shortness of breath
• chills
• a fever