Post chiari surgery and giving blood

[shelly0513]

I use to be a regular blood donor, and now I am not sure if I can give blood. On one of the questions it asks if you have a dura mater transplant before. Would the dura graft be considered a transplant?

[selmaS]

  Thank you so much for the link and info as I was not aware.....I knew if you were under weight and other issues were also a reason to be denied....had no idea...any brain surgery was a factor...thanks again.

[Elisaandbucky]

Thank you so much for sending the link above. I also was considering contacting the bone marrow registry. I have a relative that donated and wanted to do the same. I did not know that surgery on brain tissue excluded you from possible donation. Good to know.

[jenkins03]

This is straight from the Be The Match website (for bone marrow donation).

"If you have had a significant brain injury or had surgery in the brain tissue — even if currently recovered and asymptomatic — you are not able to register. See Heart Disease/Stroke, if applicable."

So not just bovine in this case, but ANY brain surgery.

https://bethematch.org/Support-the-Cause/Donate-bone-marrow/Join-the-marrow-registry/Medical-guidelines/

[selmaS]

  I am glad this topic was brought up as it has not b4 that I recall....I could not give b4 as my BP was too low....and I was wondering about doing it now since it is low but not like b4.....my dura patch is my own tissue so I do not think that is an issue...but anyone that has had bovine or cadaver I would think that would be.....


@bowemd- I had no idea even if it is removed you still could not....hmmm
and does that apply fr the synthetic patch as well? I guess as it is foreign matter/.....

[jenkins03]

I looked into this as well. From what I have read, if you have any kind of foreign-body transplant you are not able to give blood or donate organs. I don't believe this is the case if you have an autologous graft. Also, even if you have the non-autologous graft removed at some point, you still cannot donate. This came as a big surprise to me because I was hoping to add myself to the bone marrow transplant list.

[Elisaandbucky]

Tell then at the blood drive. They should know. You are so very kind and giving to be even considering continuing to give blood. Are you O negative? I know that is highly valued as it is the universal donor type. I am currently not accepted for donation; they tell me I have to wait till I am at least 6 months post-surgery. My surgery was 4/15.