Will COVID-19 Survivors Require a Lung Transplant in the Future?

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Although doctors are currently uncertain about the long-term effects of COVID-19 on the lungs of those who get the disease, they do know that patients who recover from an episode of severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), a secondary condition that can be caused by infections like COVID-19, may not recover their full lung capacity.

There are rare cases of patients who develop severe ARDS, experience respiratory failure and are not able to come off a ventilator. In those situations, experts say they would consider a lung transplant if the patient is otherwise reasonably healthy.