As SARS-CoV-2 continues to challenge hospital systems, the safety of
heart transplantation must be evaluated. Retrospective review of all
heart recipients transplanted at a single academic medical center in a
U.S. SARS-CoV-2 epicenter found two patients with non-ischemic dilated
cardiomyopathy. The 34-year-old male (ejection fraction <10%)
was bridged to transplant with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation and
microaxial left ventricular assist device. His perioperative course was
uncomplicated except for transient SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity two months
post-transplant. He was asymptomatic and remained so eight months to
follow. The 20-year-old female (ejection fraction 5%) was bridged to
transplant with microaxial left ventricular assist device. She
progresses well with SARS-CoV-2 seronegativity eight months
post-transplant. Our early experience suggests that intentional
recipient, donor, and provider testing, cautious organ procurement,
strategic intrahospital patient organization and transport, and
well-coordinated follow-up permits uninterrupted provision of this
definitive therapy for heart failure without subjecting these patients
to greater risk.
Two-Case Series of Heart Transplant at a Single Center in a SARS-CoV-2 Epicenter
