The recent lung transplantation at UZ Leuven offers a first reassuring answer to the question of whether organs from patients after COVID-19 are still eligible for transplantation. As for any transplant, the lungs of the deceased organ donor were thoroughly screened to assess their eligibility for transplantation.
At the time of the transplant, the donor tested negative for the coronavirus. The doctors did find antibodies against the virus. This allowed them to conclude that the woman had indeed been infected. Despite the contamination, the organ donor’s lung function was very good and a CT scan showed no signs of lung damage. The surgeons, pulmonologists and virologists involved therefore concluded that the risk for the recipient of these lungs was minimal. Staying on the waiting list any longer would pose a much greater risk.
The doctors involved emphasize that the ability to test quickly and accurately is also crucial for this part of medicine.
–
