title: Physiological problems in patients undergoing autologous and allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Stem cell transplantation is usually performed in an effort to extend the patient's life span and to improve their quality of life. This study was conducted to determine the postoperative physiological effects experienced by patients who had undergone autologous and allogeneic stem cell transplantation.
  
  
  METHODS
  The research is a descriptive study conducted with a sample of 60 patients at Stem Cell Transplantation Units in Ankara. Percentile calculation and chi-square tests were used to evaluate the data.
  
  
  RESULTS
  When a comparison was made between patients who had undergone allogeneic Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) and those who had undergone autologous HSCT, results indicated that problems occurred more often for the allogeneic HSCT patients. The problems included: Digestion (94.3%), dermatological (76.7%), cardiac and respiratory (66.7%), neurological (66.7%), eye (56.7%), infections (26.7%) and Graft Versus Host Disease (5 patients). Furthermore, the problems with pain (50%), numbness and tingling (40%), and speech disorders (3 patients) were observed more often in autologous BMT patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Autologous and allogeneic patients experienced most of physical problems due to they receive high doses of chemotherapy. Therefore, it is recommended that an interdisciplinary support team approach should be usedtohelp reduce and manage the problems that may arise during patient care.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Diseases Nursing, Hacettepe University, Faculty of Nursing, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Sevgisun
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kapucu
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, MN Uludag University, Goruklu, Bursa, Turkey.
authors.forename: Yasemin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Karacan
keywords: Autologous; allogeneic; hematopoietic stem cell; physiological problems; transplantation