Outpatient Transplantation during the COVID19 Pandemic: Stretching the Limits for Continuing Care

Introduction: COVID-19 has transformed stem cell transplantation (HSCT) dynamics throughout the world. Bone Marrow Transplantation units are facing many challenges complicating admission; deferrals in transplant schedules and even temporary closure. Delay in treatment may have a negative impact in outcomes. Outpatient care has been an alternative to hospital care in patients undergoing HSCT since the 1990s. Potential advantages include improved patient independence and satisfaction, improved quality of life, and less hospital resource utilization, which is of particular importance during this epidemic. In this prospective cohort study, we investigated the impact of the pandemic in our outpatient HSCT program. Objective: To describe the outcomes of patients undergoing ambulatory HSCT during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: Adults and children with any hematological disease undergoing any type of HSCT with an outpatient intent from March to July 2020 were included. All were required to have a Karnofsky score >70%, serum creatinine