Impact of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease on Patients Undergoing Lung Transplantation for COVID-19: A Single Institution Retrospective Study

Abstract

Background: Patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-associated respiratory failure undergoing lung transplantation is an emerging subset of transplant patients in which gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) pre- or post-transplant is not well characterized. Methods: We retrospectively evaluated patients undergoing lung transplant for COVID-19, with attention to pre- and post-operative physiological testing for GERD. Results: Seventeen patients were identified who had undergone lung transplant for COVID-19. No patient underwent pre-transplant GERD testing. Post-transplant, 70.5% (12/17) patients reported reflux symptoms confirmed with additional testing. Three patients underwent anti-reflux surgery (ARS) based on results of testing, and none had complications or symptom-based recurrence of reflux. Conclusion: Our study depicts a unique cohort of patients who were unable to undergo pre-transplant testing for GERD in the setting of a global pandemic, and who were routinely assessed and managed post-transplant. J Curr Surg. 2023;13(1):12-16 doi: https://doi.org/10.14740/jcs467