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Updated: Sep 12, 2026
Femoral Bone Marrow Aspiration in Live Mice
Published on: July 5, 2014
[Anesthesia and bone marrow harvesting in children]
Insights
Bone marrow harvesting in children for allogeneic bone marrow transplantation poses risks. This study analyzes anesthetic records to identify potential complications and improve donor safety in pediatric bone marrow donation.
Area of Science:
- Anesthesiology
- Pediatric Hematology
- Transplantation Medicine
Context:
- Allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT) is a vital treatment for various genetic disorders and leukemias.
- Sibling donors are most common, but pediatric bone marrow harvesting requires anesthesia, posing risks to healthy children.
Purpose:
- To retrospectively analyze anesthetic records from pediatric bone marrow harvesting procedures.
- To identify and discuss potential risks and legal issues associated with pediatric bone marrow donation.
Summary:
- A retrospective study reviewed 30 anesthetic records for bone marrow harvests in 28 pediatric donors (mean age 6 years) between 1980-1987.
- Procedures involved intubated patients in prone position, with mean marrow volume removed at 350 ml (21% estimated blood volume).
- 18 donors received transfusions; mean procedure duration was 88 minutes with a 3-day hospital stay.
Impact:
- Highlights the anesthetic risks and considerations for pediatric bone marrow donors.
- Informs strategies to enhance donor safety and address legal aspects in pediatric BMT.
- Contributes to the understanding of managing anesthesia in young bone marrow donors.
Abstract:
Allogeneic bone marrow transplantation is increasingly used to treat a great variety of disorders which range from genetic conditions to leukaemia. Most often, the donor is a healthy sibling of the patient. Bone marrow harvesting in young children is a very painful procedure requiring anaesthesia; this presents yet more risk for the donor. In order to analyse the specific problems related to this procedure, a retrospective study was carried out on 30 anaesthetic records of marrow-harvesting procedures performed between January 1980 and December 1987. The 30 harvests were carried out in 28 patients (15 boys, 13 girls). Mean age of donors was 6 +/- 0.8 yr (range: 13 months to 17 yr). Twenty-seven patients were classed ASA I and one ASA II. The harvests were all carried out in prone and intubated patients. The volume of removed marrow was 350 +/- 80 ml (range 170 to 600 ml). This was equivalent to a mean 21% estimated blood volume (6-37%). Blood transfusion with phenotyped irradiated blood was carried out in 18 patients, and with autologous blood in one. Mean duration of the procedure was 88 +/- 6 min and the mean stay in hospital was three days. The potential risks for the children are discussed, as well as the related legal problems.
