Doctors from the Silesian Center for Heart Diseases (ŚCCS) in Zabrze successfully transplanted the lungs of a 38-year-old woman who became seriously ill with COVID-19 while pregnant. The coronavirus completely destroyed her own lungs.
Ms Izabela stayed at the pregnancy pathology department of the Municipal Hospital in Ruda Śląska. In early March, she began complaining of breathlessness and fainted. A COVID-19 test confirmed she was sick, so she was transferred to the covid department of this hospital. Despite intensive treatment, the condition of the pregnant woman continued to deteriorate, which prompted gynecologists to terminate the pregnancy prematurely by caesarean section. The child has already left the hospital in Ruthenia and is under the care of the family.
Meanwhile, the mother in serious condition was transported from Ruda Śląska to the intensive care unit of the Silesian Center for Heart Diseases, where anesthesiologists led by prof. Piotr Knapik and Dr. Ewa Trejnowska fought for her life. Despite their efforts, the patient’s condition worsened and her lungs were working less and less efficiently.
«On March 14, due to the deteriorating gas exchange, the patient was connected to the ECMO, which helps to oxygenate the blood and often allows the patient’s own lungs to regenerate. Unfortunately, this did not happen in this case. The patient’s condition continued to deteriorate, her lungs were completely destroyed by the virus, and they did not fulfill their function, i.e. gas exchange. Therefore, she was qualified for transplantation »- reported Dr. hab. Marek Ochman.
On April 9, a team of cardiac surgeons-transplantologists composed of Dr. Maciej Urlik, Dr. Tomasz Stącel and Remigiusz Antończyk successfully performed a transplant of both lungs on a young mother. «We always fight for each patient, but in this case, the additional motivation for our team was the fact that the patient is the mother of a newborn child, and also has a few years older child. We are glad that the procedure was successful, because the patient’s condition was really very serious »- emphasized Dr. Maciej Urlik.
This is the fourth patient after COVID-19, and the first woman whose doctors from the Silesian Center for Heart Diseases in Zabrze saved her life with a lung transplant, when their own was destroyed by the coronavirus. ŚCCS is one of the leading centers for treating heart and lung diseases in Poland. (PAP)
Author: Anna Gumułka
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