Graft Failure Following Allogeneic Blood and Marrow Transplant: Evidence-Based Nursing Case Study Review

Despite the advances made since the earliest days of transplant therapy, graft failure following allogeneic blood and marrow transplant is still a life-threatening complication. This article reviews the science of graft failure and uses a case study presentation to address how an oncology nursing staff was motivated by a patient's experience of graft failure. An evidence-based literature review was undertaken to answer three relevant clinical questions: (a) What factors contribute to graft failure in patients receiving allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplants? (b) What interventions are appropriate for these patients? and (c) How can this information assist nursing staff in providing improved care for these patients? An example of the table of evidence is provided.