A Successful Lung Transplantation in a Patient With Active Coronavirus Disease 2019: A Case Report

An active Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection is considered a contraindication for lung transplantation. However, missing a lung transplant opportunity for patients with end-stage pulmonary disease can lead to increased morbidity and mortality. This case report focuses on a successful lung transplantation performed on a patient with an active COVID-19 infection and aims to contribute valuable insights to the limited existing literature on this topic.

After obtaining institutional ethics approval and patient consent, medical records were reviewed to prepare the case report.

A 45-year-old patient with chronic rejection after her first lung transplant was on mechanical ventilation while waiting for a donor. When a suitable donor became available, she tested positive for COVID-19 right before surgery. Despite the risks, the decision was made to proceed with the transplant. She received remdesivir and intravenous immunoglobulin therapy. Her recovery was uneventful, and 3 months posttransplant, she showed excellent graft function with no signs of rejection.

In carefully selected patients with limited donor availability, lung transplantation may be considered in active COVID-19 infected patient, accompanied by a tailored regimen of antiviral therapy and immunosuppression.