Transplant Patients

Question 1

How do you prepare a person to receive a transplant? How should you expect the body to react?

Answer 1

Prepare/maintain the recipient for transplant by decreasing ability of host to mount response and destroy new organ

Pancytopenia (leukopenia and thrombocytopenia):

• Increased risk for infection (WBCs)
• Increased risk for bleeding (platelets)

Question 2

Significant ___ to get the body ready for transplant. ___ patients may receive total body radiation in addition to chemotherapy.

Answer 2

immunosuppression; BMT

Question 3

A dental “___” will be on these patients’ care checklists.

Answer 3

clearance

Question 4

T/F. When considering treatment, pre-transplant dental exams should aim to diagnose and treat active or potential disease.

Answer 4

True.

Question 5

No treatment recommended in the first ___ months post-transplant (no functioning immune system). Therefore, pre-treatment should be ___ and ___.

Answer 5

6; expeditious; aggressive

Question 6

What should be continued throughout transplant phases?

Answer 6

preventive care

Question 7

T/F. Dental treatment modifications coincide with the failed organ and may require the need for prophylactic antibiotics.

Answer 7

True.

Question 8

What are some reasons to consult the transplant team if the failed organ is the heart, kidney, liver, or if a patient has severe diabetes or WBC cancer?

Answer 8

Heart Failure: stress
ESRD: dialysis concerns & altered drug metal
Liver Failure: drug metabolism & coagulation
Severe Diabetes: insulin reactions & infection risk
WBC Cancer: no normal WBCs & platelets

Question 9

T/F. Even emergency treatment is be avoided during the immediated 6 month post-treatment phase.

Answer 9

False, emergency treatment ONLY

Question 10

During a stable period, ___ dentistry is OK but the patient’s immune systems is suppressed for ___.

Answer 10

routine; life

Risk of infection?
Prone to bleeding?
Altered drug metabolism?
Steroid supplementation?