Name of the Procedure:

Cord Blood Harvesting for Transplantation, Allogeneic
Common Names: Cord Blood Collection
Technical/Medical Term: Cordocentesis or Umbilical Cord Blood Transplantation

Summary

Cord blood harvesting is a medical procedure where blood is collected from a newborn's umbilical cord immediately after birth. This blood, rich in stem cells, can then be used for transplantation to treat various diseases. In an allogeneic transplant, the cord blood is donated for use by a different individual, not the donor baby.

Purpose

Cord blood harvesting addresses a variety of conditions such as leukemia, lymphoma, and other blood disorders. The main goals are to provide a source of stem cells that can be used to regenerate healthy blood and immune cells in patients suffering from these conditions.

Indications

• Patients with leukemia or lymphoma
• Individuals with certain genetic disorders like sickle cell anemia
• Patients needing a hematopoietic stem cell transplant and lacking a suitable bone marrow donor
• Neonates with siblings or family members who have diseases treatable by stem cell transplantation

Preparation

• No special preparation or fasting is required for the mother or neonate.
• Parents are usually counseled and consent is obtained before the delivery.
• Obstetric history and maternal blood tests to screen for infectious diseases.

Procedure Description

1. Preparation: Shortly after the baby is delivered, either before or after the placenta is also delivered, the umbilical cord is clamped and cut.
2. Collection: A needle is inserted into the umbilical vein on the cord and the blood is drained into a collection bag.
3. Processing and Storage: The collected blood is sent to a laboratory where it is processed and stored cryogenically for future use.

Tools/Equipment: Collection bag, needle, catheter, sterile field

Anesthesia: No anesthesia or sedation is typically required as the procedure is painless for the baby.

Duration

The procedure takes just a few minutes after the baby's birth and cord cutting.

Setting

The procedure is typically performed in a hospital delivery room, birthing center, or other clinical settings where childbirth occurs.

Personnel

• Obstetrician or midwife
• Trained nurse or technician specializing in cord blood collection
• Laboratory personnel handling collection and processing

Risks and Complications

• Minimal risks to the mother and baby.
• Rare cases of contamination or insufficient sample collection.

Benefits

• Provides a vital source of stem cells for transplantation.
• The process is safe and painless for both mother and baby.
• Stored cord blood can be a life-saving resource for other patients needing stem cell transplants.

Recovery

• No recovery period required for the mother or newborn.
• Usual post-delivery care and monitoring for both the mother and baby.

Alternatives

• Bone Marrow Transplant: More invasive and requires finding a matched donor.
• Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplant: Involves stimulating stem cells in a donor's bloodstream.
• Pros and Cons: Cord blood collection is less invasive and more readily available but might have a lower quantity of stem cells compared to bone marrow.

Patient Experience

• The mother might be aware of the collection process but will not feel any discomfort.
• The newborn baby feels no pain as the cord has no nerve endings.
• Following the birth and collection, the standard postnatal practices continue with no additional discomfort due to the procedure.