Bone marrow biopsy

All bone marrow biopsies are done using local anaesthetic, and if appropriate we may also offer Entonox (a mixture of nitrous oxide and oxygen) to reduce discomfort during the procedure.

Around half of our patients tolerate the procedure well with local anaesthesia alone, with others also using Entonox.

Find us and contact us

We are in a specially-equipped Bone Marrow Biopsy Room on the Haematology Ward on the first floor of the Churchill Hospital.

How to find the Churchill Hospital

Appointment queries

If you have queries about your bone marrow biopsy appointment, please contact us.

Email: bonemarrow.biopsies@ouh.nhs.uk

Tel: 01865 235052

Monday to Friday 9.00am - 5.00pm (excluding Bank Holidays)

Please leave a message on the answerphone and we will try to call back the same day or the next working day.

Medications

If you are on medication that makes your blood less likely to clot, such as:

• aspirin
• clopidogrel
• dalteparin
• apixaban
• rivaroxaban
• dabigatran
• warfarin

please tell us when your appointment is booked.

We will give you additional instructions, and may ask that you stop taking it for several days before the procedure.

This list is not exhaustive, and if you are uncertain whether your medication may make your blood less likely to clot, please discuss this with the Bone Marrow Biopsy Team.

Your appointment

Please wait on one of the chairs outside the entrance to the Bone Marrow Biopsy Room, until we are ready to begin your procedure.

After the procedure

After the procedure we will ask you to wait in the Day Room opposite the Bone Marrow Biopsy Room for 40 minutes to monitor for any immediate complications.

Visitors

We cannot usually allow anyone to come in with you during the procedure, but a nurse will be present throughout the procedure, alongside the doctor performing the biopsy.

Visitors are welcome to join you in the Day Room after the procedure.

Links

Leaflets

Having a bone marrow test (pdf)

After your bone marrow biopsy (pdf)