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CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · Thorac Cardiovasc Surg Rep 2022; 11(01): e23-e26
DOI: 10.1055/s-0042-1742714
Case Report: Cardiac

Lung Transplantation for Adult Respiratory Distress Syndrome after SARS-CoV-2 Infection

Achim Koch 
1   Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, University of Duisburg-Essen Faculty of Medicine, Essen, Northrhine-Westfalia, Germany
,
Nikolaus Pizanis
1   Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, University of Duisburg-Essen Faculty of Medicine, Essen, Northrhine-Westfalia, Germany
,
Vasiliki Bessa
2   Department of Pulmonology, University of Duisburg-Essen Faculty of Medicine, Essen, Northrhine-Westfalia, Germany
,
Frank Herbstreit
3   Department of Anesthesiology, University of Duisburg-Essen Faculty of Medicine, Essen, Northrhine-Westfalia, Germany
,
Erich Gulbins
4   Institute for Molecular Biology, University of Duisburg-Essen Faculty of Medicine, Essen, Northrhine-Westfalia, Germany
,
Clemens Aigner 
5   Department of Thoracic Surgery, Universitat Duisburg-Essen Medizinische Fakultat, Essen, Germany
,
Markus Kamler
6   Thorax und Kardiovaskuläre Chirurgie, Universitätsklinikum Essen, Essen, Germany
7   Herzchirurgie, Herzzentrum Essen, Essen, Germany
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Abstract

Background The majority of patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection present mild symptoms. However, some patients develop severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and subsequent irreversible lung damage despite extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, leaving lung transplantation the ultimate therapeutically option.

Case Description Here, we report a case of lung transplantation in a 31-year-old male recipient suffering from post-coronavirus disease 2019 respiratory failure with irreversible ARDS after prolonged extracorporeal membrane oxygenation therapy.

Conclusion Patient selection criteria are elucidated. One relevant mechanism for susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 in the respiratory system, the acid sphingomyelinase/ceramide system might be altered during infection with SARS-CoV-2.

Keywords

SARS-CoV-2 - lung transplantation - sphingosine

Authors' Contributions

Achim Koch was involved in conception of design, data acquisition, interpretation, drafting, and final approval and was accountable for all aspects of the work, and was also a corresponding author.


Nikolaus Pizanis was involved in conception of design, data acquisition, interpretation, drafting, and final approval and was accountable for all aspects of the work.


Vasiliki Bessa was involved in acquisition of data and revision and final approval and was accountable for aspects of accuracy and integrity and revision.


Frank Herbstreit was involved in acquisition of data and revision and final approval and was accountable for aspects of accuracy and integrity.


Erich Gulbins was involved in design of work and revision and final approval and was accountable for aspects of accuracy and integrity.


Clemens Aigner was involved in interpretation of data and revision and final approval and was accountable for aspects of accuracy and integrity.


Markus Kamler was involved in conception and critical revision and final approval and was accountable for aspects of accuracy and integrity.




Publication History

Received: 31 August 2021

Accepted: 10 November 2021

Article published online:
02 March 2022

© 2022. The Author(s). This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonDerivative-NonCommercial License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit. Contents may not be used for commercial purposes, or adapted, remixed, transformed or built upon. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)

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