Lung Transplant as a Treatment for Patients with End-Stage Respiratory Failure Due to COVID-19.

BACKGROUND: COVID-19 may lead to development of irreversible acute respiratory distress syndrome. Some patients sustain severe respiratory failure after infection subsides. They may require lung transplant as a last resort treatment. The aim of the study is to assess the effect and feasibility of lung transplant as a treatment for patients with severe irreversible respiratory failure due to COVID-19. METHODS: This retrospective study pertains to analysis of 119 patients in critical condition who were referred to Lung Transplant Ward (Zabrze, Poland). between July 2020 and June 2021 after developing respiratory failure requiring extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, invasive ventilation, or both, as well as a few patients on high-flow oxygen therapy. Inclusion criteria for referral were confirmed lack of viral disease and exhaustion of other therapeutic options. RESULTS: Of the referred patients, 21.84% were disqualified from such treatment owing to existing contraindications. Among the suitable patients, 75.8% died without transplant. Among all patients who were qualified for lung transplant, only 9 patients became double lung transplant recipients. Intraoperative mortality for this procedure was 33%. Four patients were discharged after the procedure and are currently self-reliant with full respiratory capacity. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with severe irreversible respiratory failure after COVID-19 present significantly high mortality without lung transplant. This procedure may present satisfactory results but must be performed in a timely fashion owing to critical condition and scarcity of lung donors, only aggravated around the time of peak infection waves.

COVID-19 Among Lung Transplant Recipients: A Single Center Study.

BACKGROUND: When COVID-19 became a pandemic, it was difficult to predict how it would affect lung transplant recipients. The aim of this study was to assess the mortality, influence on graft function as well as attitude toward SARS-CoV-2 vaccination among lung transplant recipients from a single center. METHODS: We analyzed medical data pertaining to 124 recipients who received lung transplants between 2008-2021 from a single center and original questionnaire on the COVID-19 severity classification system and the patients' attitude toward SARS-CoV-2 vaccination. Graft function was assessed by spirometry and a 6-minute walk test (6MWT), at least at the first postCOVID-19 visit. RESULTS: Among 29 patients who were confirmed to have COVID-19, 6 people died during or directly after contracting this infectious disease. The significant decrease in spirometry and distance in a 6MWT has been rarely observed in COVID-19 survivors. After vaccination ( n=107 patients) , most patients reported mild symptoms with slight pain and discomfort at the injection site being the most common (51.4%). 67.7% of all studiedpatients did not have any fears regarding the vaccination. Others reported being significantly worried about its effects (19.4% agreed to receive a vaccination anyway and 12.9% refused to be vaccinated). CONCLUSIONS: COVID-19 may present significant mortality among lung transplant recipients. The short-term safety and outcomes of vaccinations among these patients seemed encouraging. We are aware of the small study group limitations and hope to research this issue further.

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for severe COVID-19-associated acute respiratory distress syndrome in Poland: a multicenter cohort study.

BACKGROUND: In Poland, the clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients with COVID-19 requiring extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) remain unknown. This study aimed to answer these unknowns by analyzing data collected from high-volume ECMO centers willing to participate in this project. METHODS: This retrospective, multicenter cohort study was completed between March 1, 2020, and May 31, 2021 (15 months). Data from all patients treated with ECMO for COVID-19 were analyzed. Pre-ECMO laboratory and treatment data were compared between non-survivors and survivors. Independent predictors for death in the intensive care unit (ICU) were identified. RESULTS: There were 171 patients admitted to participating centers requiring ECMO for refractory hypoxemia due to COVID-19 during the defined time period. A total of 158 patients (mean age: 46.3 ± 9.8 years) were analyzed, and 13 patients were still requiring ECMO at the end of the observation period. Most patients (88%) were treated after October 1, 2020, 77.8% were transferred to ECMO centers from another facility, and 31% were transferred on extracorporeal life support. The mean duration of ECMO therapy was 18.0 ± 13.5 days. The crude ICU mortality rate was 74.1%. In the group of 41 survivors, 37 patients were successfully weaned from ECMO support and four patients underwent a successful lung transplant. In-hospital death was independently associated with pre-ECMO lactate level (OR 2.10 per 1 mmol/L, p = 0.017) and BMI (OR 1.47 per 5 kg/m2, p = 0.050). CONCLUSIONS: The ICU mortality rate among patients requiring ECMO for COVID-19 in Poland was high. In-hospital death was independently associated with increased pre-ECMO lactate levels and BMI.

First lung transplantation as a treatment of a patient supported with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) after COVID-19 in Poland.

A 44-year-old male with no history of underlying diseases was referred to academic hospital due to ARDS with confirmed SARSCoV-2 infection after 7 days of mechanical ventilation. Veno-venous (VV) extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) was initiated as no improvement was noted in prone position. Mechanical ventilation was continued with TV of 3-4 mL/kg. A gradual decline of static lung compliance was observed from baseline 35 mL/cm H20 to 8 mL/cm H2O. The chest CT scan revealed extensive ground-glass areas with a significant amount of traction bronchiectasis after 3 weeks since admission. When the patient was negative for SARS-CoV-2 during the 4th week of ECMO, the decision to perform an emergency lung transplantation (LTx) was made based on the ongoing degradation of lung function and irreversible damage to lung structure. The patient was transferred to the transplant center where he was extubated, awaiting the transplant on passive oxygen therapy and ECMO. Double lung transplantation was performed on the day 30th of ECMO. Currently, the patient is self-reliant. He does not need oxygen therapy and continues physiotherapy. ECMO may be life-saving in severe cases of COVID-19 ARDS but some of these patients may require LTx, especially when weaning proves impossible. VV ECMO as a bridging method is more difficult but ultimately more beneficial due to insufficient number of donors, and consequently long waiting time in Poland.

HTCC as a Polymeric Inhibitor of SARS-CoV-2 and MERS-CoV.

Among seven coronaviruses that infect humans, three (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus [SARS-CoV], Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus [MERS-CoV], and the newly identified severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 [SARS-CoV-2]) are associated with a severe, life-threatening respiratory infection and multiorgan failure. We previously proposed that the cationically modified chitosan N-(2-hydroxypropyl)-3-trimethylammonium chitosan chloride (HTCC) is a potent inhibitor of human coronavirus NL63 (HCoV-NL63). Next, we demonstrated the broad-spectrum antiviral activity of the compound, as it inhibited all low-pathogenicity human coronaviruses (HCoV-NL63, HCoV-229E, HCoV-OC43, and HCoV-HKU1). Here, using in vitro and ex vivo models of human airway epithelia, we show that HTCC effectively blocks MERS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2 infection. We also confirmed the mechanism of action for these two viruses, showing that the polymer blocks the virus entry into the host cell by interaction with the S protein.IMPORTANCE The beginning of 2020 brought us information about the novel coronavirus emerging in China. Rapid research resulted in the characterization of the pathogen, which appeared to be a member of the SARS-like cluster, commonly seen in bats. Despite the global and local efforts, the virus escaped the health care measures and rapidly spread in China and later globally, officially causing a pandemic and global crisis in March 2020. At present, different scenarios are being written to contain the virus, but the development of novel anticoronavirals for all highly pathogenic coronaviruses remains the major challenge. Here, we describe the antiviral activity of an HTCC compound, previously developed by us, which may be used as a potential inhibitor of currently circulating highly pathogenic coronaviruses-SARS-CoV-2 and MERS-CoV.