WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: What do I need to know about bone marrow harvesting? Bone marrow harvesting is a procedure to remove bone marrow from your bones. Bone marrow may be transplanted into your own body or donated to another person. Bone marrow is usually taken from the pelvis. How do I prepare for bone marrow harvesting? Your healthcare provider will talk to you about how to prepare for your procedure. He may tell you not to eat or drink anything after midnight on the day of your procedure. He will tell you what medicines to take or not take on the day of your procedure. Arrange for someone to drive you home after your procedure. What will happen during bone marrow harvesting? You may be given general anesthesia to keep you asleep and free from pain during the procedure. You may instead be given regional anesthesia. Regional anesthesia numbs the lower part of your body. You will be placed on your stomach. Your healthcare provider will insert a needle that is attached to a syringe into your hip bone. The syringe is used to remove the bone marrow. Your healthcare provider will insert the needle into several areas of your hip bone to get enough bone marrow. A bandage will be placed over the areas where the needle was inserted. What will happen after bone marrow harvesting? You may have soreness, bruising, and aching in your hips and lower back for a few days after the procedure. You may also feel tired or weak, or have trouble walking. It may take up to 4 weeks for you to regain all of your strength and feel back to normal. What are the risks of bone marrow harvesting? You may bleed more than expected and get an infection at the needle insertion sites. Your blood pressure may get low and cause symptoms such as dizziness, lightheadedness, confusion, or blurred vision. |