Respiratory assessment peri hematopoeitic stem cell transplant

Shivanthan Shanthikumar
The Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, Australia

Respiratory complications of childhood Haematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (HSCT) are a significant global problem. Internationally over 5000 children undergo HSCT each year, with the aim of curing a life shortening condition. Due to the underlying condition, children have had many years of sickness and treatment and HSCT is the final avenue for cure. The cruelty of seeing a child who has endured many years of suffering be cured of a life shortening condition, only to be killed by respiratory complications of HSCT cannot be overstated. 

Until recently the prevalence, morbidity and mortality associated with respiratory complications was unknown, however we have now shown that 50% will develop a respiratory complication, 12% will require intensive care unit admission due to respiratory complications, and 6% will die.
This talk will describe the recently published American Thoracic Society endorsed guideline on surveillance and diagnosis of bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome (the most common complication) to help clinicians manage this devastating problem.