AUTOLOGOUS BONE-MARROW TRANSPLANTATION - A REVIEW OF THE PRINCIPLES AND COMPLICATIONS

High-dose chemotherapy and autologous bone marrow transplantation (ABM T) is now used routinely in an attempt to cure patients with poor-prog nosis malignant diseases. This aggressive and intensive treatment requ ires a highly trained health-care team. Nurses specializing in the car e of these patients are essential to maintain patient well-being and e nsure a good outcome. High-dose therapy leads to myelosuppression and tissue damage, and the resultant infections, bleeding, and organ toxic ities are frequently either unusual or more severe than those seen wit h conventional-dose antineoplastic therapies. Organ toxicities can aff ect both short-term and long-term functional status. Disabling or even fatal consequences of treatment can occur during the transplant or mo nths or years later. A specialized knowledge base and an understanding of the way this therapy affects the patient is required not only for the acute inpatient period, but also for the long term. A team approac h to these complex patients with a central role for the nurse clinicia n will lead to optimal patient care.