Remdesivir resistance in transplant recipients with persistent COVID-19.

New mutations conferring resistance to SARS-CoV-2 therapeutics have important clinical implications. We describe the first cases of an independently acquired V792I RNA-dependent RNA polymerase mutation developing in renal transplant recipients after remdesivir exposure. Our work underscores the need for augmented efforts to identify concerning mutations and address their clinical implications.

A Call for Caution in the Immunocompromised: Coronavirus Disease 2019 Associated With Mortality in a Vaccinated Lung Transplant Recipient.

We describe a vaccinated lung transplant recipient who experienced a fatal outcome associated with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Tocilizumab was administered. The patient exhibited clinical and radiographic evidence of colitis during the course of multiple secondary infections. This report emphasizes the need for more conservative precautions to prevent COVID-19 infection in transplant recipients.

Surgical management of a COVID-19-associated necrotic pneumonia.

At the outset of the pandemic, SARS-CoV-2 was thought to present simply as persistent cough and fever. However, with time, the medical community noted a myriad of associated symptoms well-described in the literature. Medical complications were particularly common in elderly populations and many early publications described pneumonia, organ failure, acute respiratory distress syndrome, hypercoagulability/microthrombosis and superimposed bacterial/viral infections. There is, however, a lack of literature describing surgical complications of COVID-19 and as such little knowledge regarding safe surgical interventions. This case describes the presentation/management of a patient who developed COVID-19-associated necrotising pneumonia. Video-assisted thoracoscopy lobectomy was performed following CT demonstration of necrotising pneumonia. Pathological evaluation of the surgical resection specimen demonstrated the microarchitecture of a severely diseased COVID-19 lung-fibrosis. This case demonstrates the safe management of a necrotic lung using a minimal access approach in the context of COVID-19 infection.

Insertion technique for the Impella 5.0 heart pump in the COVID-19 era.

We describe the insertion of the Impella 5.0, a peripherally placed mechanical cardiovascular microaxial pump, in a patient with ischemic left ventricular dysfunction. The Impella is a 7 Fr device capable of achieving a flow of 4.0-5.0 L/min; its use necessitates an open arterial cut-down. A subclavicular incision is used to access the right or left axillary artery. A 10-mm tube graft is anastomosed to the artery through which the Impella 5.0 is inserted. The device traverses the tube graft and is advanced via the aorta, across the aortic valve, to its final position (inflow toward the ventricular apex and outflow above the aorta). The device may remain in situ for 10 days until recovery or until further supports are instituted. Our goal is to demonstrate the insertion of the Impella 5.0 device in a patient with cardiogenic shock whose situation was further complicated by coronavirus disease 2019.