Matching
The first part of the bone marrow donation process is called matching. This important step minimizes the risk that the recipient's body will reject the transplant.. The most common way of checking for "matching" uses proteins called human leukocyte antigens (HLAs). These proteins, which are present on most cells, help the immune system distinguish between cells that are foreign and those that are from the body. Consequently, it is easier to have a successful bone marrow transplant if the donor and the recipient both have the same HLA proteins.
Before the Procedure
The donation process begins with the donor coming into the hospital early in the morning on the day of the donation procedure. An anesthesiologist administers anesthesia to help manage the pain from the donation process. Seventy-five percent of the time the donor receives general anesthesia. The alternative is local anesthesia, which allows the donor to remain conscious and has a lower risk of complications. Depending on the hospital's policy, the donor will either be able to leave in the late afternoon or will be kept overnight (the latter is more common if general anesthesia is used).
Procedure
The bone marrow donation operation begins with the patient lying face down on the table. The surgeon(s) makes between one and four small cuts (less than a quarter of an inch long) over the pelvic bone. Next, the surgeon inserts a hollow needle with a syringe at the end into the pelvic bone. This syringe uses suction to remove a small amount of bone marrow. Finally, surgeons remove the needle and bandage the wounds, which are small enough they do not require stitches.
