Transplanting thoracic COVID-19 positive donors: An institutional protocol and report of the first 14 cases.
We present our institution's protocol for evaluating and transplanting thoracic organs from COVID-19 positive donors and report the outcomes to date. Hearts from donors testing positive for COVID-19 on any test were eligible for transplantation at our institution provided the donor exhibited no evidence of hypercoagulability or COVID-19 induced hyperinflammatory state during terminal hospitalization. Lungs were eligible if the donor first tested PCR positive on nasopharyngeal swab (NPS) for COVID-19 > 20 days prior to procurement and had a negative lower respiratory tract specimen. We performed 14 thoracic transplants in 13 recipients using organs from COVID-19 positive donors. None of the recipients or healthcare members acquired COVID-19. No recipients suffered unexpected acute rejection. Patient survival is 92% to date, with graft survival 93%. The use of hearts from COVID-19 positive donors may be safe and effective. Transplantation of lungs is unresolved but may be cautiously pursued under the restricted circumstances.
Duke Scholars
Altmetric Attention Stats
Dimensions Citation Stats
Published In
DOI
EISSN
Publication Date
Volume
Issue
Start / End Page
Location
Related Subject Headings
- Tissue and Organ Procurement
- Tissue Donors
- Surgery
- Lung Transplantation
- Humans
- Graft Survival
- COVID-19
- 3202 Clinical sciences
- 3201 Cardiovascular medicine and haematology
- 1102 Cardiorespiratory Medicine and Haematology
Citation
Published In
DOI
EISSN
Publication Date
Volume
Issue
Start / End Page
Location
Related Subject Headings
- Tissue and Organ Procurement
- Tissue Donors
- Surgery
- Lung Transplantation
- Humans
- Graft Survival
- COVID-19
- 3202 Clinical sciences
- 3201 Cardiovascular medicine and haematology
- 1102 Cardiorespiratory Medicine and Haematology