Bone Marrow aspiration: Purpose, Procedure and risks

By definition, bone marrow is the soft tissue inside bones that helps form blood cells. It is found in the hollow part of most bones. Bone marrow aspiration is the removal of a small amount of this tissue in liquid form for examination.  The test is used to check for disease as well as to monitor the progression or treatment of a specific disease such as cancer as it will determine if the cancer has spread to the bones. Bone Marrow Aspiration in India is highly encouraged because of the number of hospitals that provide for it and the accuracy of the test. Any doctor would immediately suggest the procedure here because bone marrow transplant cost in India is much less than other countries with extremely good success rates and varies between government and private hospitals for the bone marrow transplant, and differs highly from city to city in this regard.

The purpose, procedure and risks are listed as follows:

 Procedure of Bone Marrow Aspiration

This procedure may be done in the health care provider's office or in a hospital. The marrow is removed from the person’s pelvic or breast bone and sometimes, another bone is selected too.  If needed, the person is given medicine to help them relax as it comes across as a very painful procedure. The provider then cleans the skin and injects numbing medicine into the area and surface of the bone. After letting the numbing medicine do it’s job a special needle is inserted into the bone. The needle has a tube attached to it, which creates suction. A small sample of bone marrow fluid flows into the tube. The needle is then removed. Pressure and then an antiseptic bandage are applied to the skin. The collected fluid is sent to a laboratory and examined under a microscope for details and abnormalities if any. For the required biopsy, a larger needle is inserted into the same area and guided into the bone. The specialist performing the procedure rotates the needle until a sample of tissue is removed. You may feel pain and pressure as the needle moves into the bone. He or she will then remove the entire needle and place a pressure covering over the site to prevent bleeding.

Purpose of the test and advantages of bone marrow transplant:

Doctors or medical practitioners may recommend this test if an individual has abnormal types or numbers of red or white blood cells or platelets on a complete blood count. The test is used to help diagnose anaemia, leukaemia and other infections borne in the blood. Anaemia is a condition in which the body does not have enough healthy red blood cells. Red blood cells provide oxygen to body tissues. Although many parts of the body help make red blood cells, most of the work is done in the marrow itself. This is why Stem Cell Transplant is recommended just in case the safety of the immune system and the bone structure and functioning as a collective entity has been jeopardized.

 Risks associated with Bone Marrow Aspiration:

These are generally safe procedures. Complications are rare but can include the following:

• Excessive bleeding, mainly in people with low numbers of a certain type of blood cell (platelets).

• Infection, especially in people with weakened immune systems.

• Long-lasting discomfort at the biopsy site.

• Penetration of the breastbone (sternum) during sternal aspirations, which can cause heart or lung problems.

In the past, patients who needed a stem cell transplant received a” Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation” because the stem cells were collected from the required places. Today, stem cells are usually collected from the blood, instead of the bone marrow. For this reason, they are now more commonly called stem cell transplants. Now, to determine whether or not an individual will eventually need these transplants, a Bone Marrow Aspiration test is usually recommended. Certain cancers and other diseases keep hematopoietic stem cells from developing normally. If they are not normal, neither are the blood cells that they make. A stem cell transplant gives the patient new stem cells which in turn suggests a changed pace in the nature of their rehabilitation and treatment.