Lung transplantation for COVID-19-associated acute respiratory distress syndrome in a PCR-positive patient.

Lang C, Jaksch P, Hoda MA, Lang G, Staudinger T, Tschernko E, Zapletal B, Geleff S, Prosch H, Gawish R, Knapp S, Robak O, Thalhammer F, Indra A, Koestenberger M, Strassl R, Klikovits T, Ali K, Fischer G, Klepetko W, Hoetzenecker K, Schellongowski P.

Lancet Respir Med. 2020 Aug 25:S2213-2600(20)30361-1. doi: 10.1016/S2213-2600(20)30361-1. Online ahead of print. PMID: 32857987 Free PMC article. No abstract available. But full text at : https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanres/article/PIIS2213-2600(20)30361-1/fulltext

Extract:
Most patients with COVID-19 have a mild or asymptomatic disease course; however, about 10% require admission to an intensive care unit (ICU) because of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). ^{1 2} Mortality rates of up to 60% have been reported for this subgroup. ^{3 4} Lung transplantation remains the ultimate treatment option for various chronic end-stage lung diseases. In addition, it can be considered as a salvage therapy for carefully selected patients who have severe treatment-refractory ARDS. ⁵ However, wide uncertainty exists as to whether lung transplantation could have a place in the treatment of severe COVID-19 and, if so, what the optimal timing for such a treatment should be. Herein, we report the first case of lung transplantation for a patient with a persistently positive severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) real-time RT-PCR test result.