Heart transplant in a Sars-CoV-2 positive recipient: Management protocol of the world's first case

Clin Transplant. 2023 Aug;37(8):e15045. doi: 10.1111/ctr.15045. Epub 2023 Jun 12.

Abstract

The advent of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection in China at the end of 2019 has developed into a global outbreak, and COVID- 19 is an ongoing major public health issue. During the pandemic, transplant programs had to devise strategies to deal with the possibility of COVID-19-positive donors and recipients. We describe the case of a heart transplant recipient who tested positive with the SARS- CoV2 swab upon admission to our Unit of Cardiac Surgery when a suitable donor became available. Given his clinical status of end-stage heart failure and the absence of imaging and clinical signs suggestive of COVID-19, and his having been vaccinated with three doses, we decided to proceed with the transplant.

Keywords: congestive heart failure; heart transplant; monoclonal antibodies; sars-cov-2; septic shock.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • COVID-19*
  • China
  • Heart Transplantation*
  • Humans
  • SARS-CoV-2
  • Tissue Donors
  • Transplant Recipients