The spin on apheresis

Find out about the many types and applications of this blood component-separating therapy.

Nursing care of the blood cell transplant recipient

OBJECTIVES

To review the complications of blood cell transplantation (BCT) and their clinical and nursing management.

DATA SOURCES

Review articles, research studies, book chapters pertaining to the complications of peripheral stem cell transplantation and the management of these complications.

CONCLUSIONS

As the number of patients receiving BCT increases, complications related to stem cell mobilization, harvesting, dose-intensive conditioning therapy, infusion, and engraftment are being documented with increasing accuracy.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE

Oncology nurses will be caring for an increasing population of patients undergoing BCT. Although complications of both bone marrow transplantation and BCT are similar there are unique differences. Support and nursing interventions are of utmost importance for BCT patients and their family caregivers.

Blood products replacements processed in the surgical field

This article summarizes the main blood products that can be gathered from, treated, and returned to the trauma patient in the operating room. A brief description of the physiology of blood and clotting mechanisms is given. A focus on plasma pheresis is provided, as well as a suggested procedure for plasma collection.

Therapeutic apheresis

1. Patients cared for by intensive care, medical and neurological nurses may require therapeutic apheresis. 2. Apheresis involves the separation of blood into its component parts and the removal of one of these. 3. Therapeutic apheresis is an invasive technique which may have serious complications for the patient and pose an infection risk to the nurse. 4. Nurses must make this daunting procedure as problem-free and comfortable for their patients as possible.

An overview of the rationale, process, and nursing implications of peripheral blood stem cell transplantation

Peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (PBSCT) is the process of removing circulating stem cells from the peripheral blood through apheresis and returning these cells to the patient after dose-intensive chemotherapy. Clinical trials using PBSCT and dose-intensive chemotherapy are underway at cancer centers across the country. Nurses caring for patients who are undergoing PBSCT need an understanding of all aspects of the process in order to competently manage the toxicities, as well as to educate patients, families, and other staff. Nurses need to consider issues for nursing research to improve the quality of life for these patients.

The nurse's role in caring for patients undergoing LDL-Apheresis

LDL-Apheresis is a new, exciting, highly computerised treatment which is currently being researched. It selectively removes the harmful lipoproteins, in particular Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL) to which is attributed accelerated coronary artery disease 2-3 years after cardiac transplantation. Accepting the rather unique nursing role caring for patients receiving this treatment, the author has found that the research programme has opened up a challenging and very interesting variation in her career using advanced computerised technology. But it has also provided increased opportunity for her to use nursing skills, particularly in the area of communication, to enhance her relationship with the patients and raise the standard of care given.