First Successful Lung Transplantation for Pulmonary Fibrosis Due to Severe COVID-19 Infection in the US

Abstract

IntroductionLung transplantation can potentially be a life-saving treatment for patients with non-resolving COVID-19 acute respiratory distress syndrome. Concerns limiting transplant include recurrence of SARS-CoV-2 infection in the allograft, technical challenges imposed by viral-mediated injury to the native lung. Here, we report the first successful lung transplantation in a patient with non-resolving COVID-19 associated acute respiratory distress syndrome in the United States.Case ReportThe recipient was a 28-year old female with past medical history of neuromyelitis optica treated with mycophenolate and rituximab who developed COVID pneumonia leading acute respiratory distress syndrome. The patient was intubated for 8 days with prone prior to initiation of VV ECMO. Her ECMO course was complicated by right sided pneumothorax requiring multiple pleural tubes and the development of Serratia marcescens pneumonia with left lower lung necrosis, and a liver capsular bleed necessitating emergent exploratory laparotomy. (Figure1a, b) She received antibiotics, remdesivir, hydroxychloroquine, tocilizumab, and convalescent plasma. However there was no signs of recovery and she was listed for lung transplantation after ECMO support for 32 days . Implantation was supported with central VA ECMO, and there was severe dense vascular adhesions bilaterally with severe distortion of hilar. (Figure1c) Explanted Lungs damaged by COVID-19 were free of virus but pathology showed extensive evidence of acute interstitial inflammation with fibrosis which consistence with end-stage pulmonary fibrosis. (Figure1d, e) The patient was decannulated from VV ECMO on POD 17, and was discharged on POD 27. (Figure1f) Four months after transplantation, she is at home with oxygen saturations above 98% on room air.SummaryOur experience suggest that lung transplant is the only option for survival for some patients with severe COVID-19 develop fibrotic lung.