PATIENT EDUCATION patienteducation.osumc.edu Emergency Care for Blood and Marrow Transplant Patients General Guidelines for Emergency Care Use these guidelines to know when and how to report any problems that you may have after you leave the hospital. Your doctor may give you more information about how to manage your specific health care needs. Symptoms and When to Call Your Doctor Symptom Bleeding Blood in vomit or stool Blood from nose Blood in or around eye Petechiae (pin point red dots under the surface of skin) or bruises Apply first aid (pinch your nose, put head forward, apply ice pack to nose and back of neck. If your nose is still bleeding after 1 to 2 minutes, call your doctor. Blood in urine Bleeding from vagina This handout is for informational purposes only. Talk with your doctor or health care team if you have any questions about your care. May 21, 2018. The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute.
Symptom Fever Temperature Call your doctor right away if you have a temperature of 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius) or higher. If your temperature is less than 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit, retake in 2 hours. Do not take medicines that can reduce a fever before you call your doctor. These medicines include: Tylenol, Aspirin, Ibuprofen or Aleve, Vicodin or Lortab (Hydrocodone/ Acetaminophen), Percocet (Oxycodone/Acetaminophen). Cold symptoms Change in level of consciousness Central Venous Catheter Cough Shortness of breath Sore throat, runny nose Unable to wake up or speak Severe headache Confusion Dizziness or lightheaded A tear or crack in the catheter Unable to flush catheter Tenderness, redness or drainage at site Family/Caregiver should call 911 right away, then call your doctor. Family/Caregiver should call your doctor right away.
Symptom Vomiting or Nausea Mouth Sores Diarrhea (liquid stool, watery, without form) Skin rashes or lesions Blood in vomit or vomit that looks like coffeegrounds Unable to keep medicines or foods down, unable to swallow fluids Painful sores in the mouth Stool that has blood in it or looks like black tar or is maroon in color Increase in the amount and number of times you have diarrhea Any new symptom Call your doctor within 24 hours or sooner if you need pain medicine. Eyes Vision changes Joint or bone pain, or joint swelling Redness or drainage Dry, itchy Any new symptoms or if pain medicine is needed
Symptom Overall pain Abdominal pain or cramping Chest pain Indigestion Persistent or increasing pain that is not relieved by pain medicine Severe pain or pain that continues for over 24 hours Pressure or crushing pain in the middle of your chest that may go across your chest to your shoulders, arms (one or both), neck or back Stomach pain or gas Call 911 right way. If you have other symptoms not listed, you may call: The Hematology and Transplant Outpatient Clinic at (614) 293-3316 during regular business hours. After hours, on weekends, or holidays you should call the James After Hours Nurse Triage Line at (614) 293-9464. If your symptoms are not life threatening, call the Hematology and Transplant Outpatient Clinic. It is important to call early in the day. There may be ways to help stop or reduce the problem. The doctor or nurse practitioner may ask you to keep track of your symptom(s) or may give you directions on what you can do to prevent the problem from getting worse. You may be able to be seen in the Hematology and Transplant Outpatient Clinic instead of the Emergency Department for your problem.
If you have a life threatening medical emergency, you or your caregiver should call 911. When you call 911, the emergency squad will take you to the nearest hospital and contact your doctor. You may be transferred to Ohio State University James Cancer Hospital, if needed. It is important to know the emergency phone number to use in your local area. Important Medical Phone Numbers Put a copy of your important medical phone numbers on your refrigerator and in your purse or wallet. Emergency Squad (Ambulance) 911 or local emergency number Call this number in a medical emergency. Hematology and Transplant Outpatient Clinic Inpatient Blood and Marrow Transplant Unit (BMTU) (614) 293-3316 If you have a nonemergency, call the outpatient clinic during business hours (7:30am - 5:00pm weekdays) for help and information. (614) 293-9464 or (614) 293-3316 and follow prompts. If you have a nonemergency after hours, on the weekend, or a holiday, call the nurse triage line. You will talk with a nurse who will ask about your problem, then will call the doctor. If you are unable to reach the Inpatient Blood and Marrow Transplant Unit (BMTU) (614) 293-8000 (Hospital Operator) The operator will page the doctor on call for the Blood and Marrow Transplant.