Outpatient bone marrow harvesting: an update

We previously demonstrated in a pilot study that outpatient marrow harvesting is feasible and safe. Here, we provide an update and analysis of 149 outpatient marrow harvests and compare the results with 61 inpatient harvests. The mean patient age was 33 years. Mean outpatient harvest duration was 41 minutes, similar to inpatients. Average pre- and post-harvest hemoglobin values were 122 and 99 g/L, respectively, for outpatients and 119 and 93 g/L for inpatients. Fifty per cent of patients received an average of two units of homologous packed erythrocytes following the procedure versus 2.3 units for 57% of inpatients. Mean harvest volume was 1248 ml (versus 1341 ml for inpatients) and the mean number of mononucleated cells obtained was 2.73 x 10(8)/kg (3.23 x 10(8)/kg for inpatients). There were no serious complications in patients undergoing out-patient marrow harvesting. Sixteen outpatients (11%) had minor complications of hypotension, fever, nausea, vomiting or moderate pain. Thirteen patients (9%) required subsequent admission for a mean of 1.3 days. Eight inpatients (13%) had similar complications. All patients responded well to fluid replacement and analgesics. We confirm the safety of outpatient marrow harvesting for patients with hematologic malignancies.