A pandemic of acute respiratory distress syndrome—role of lung transplant in coronavirus disease-2019–associated respiratory failure

Lung transplantation may be appropriate, and may offer benefit only to a carefully selected subset of morbidly ill patients afflicted by coronavirus disease-2019. Identifying the appropriate recipient for the allocation of scarce resources, by safely navigating through the challenges that are unique to lung transplantation for coronavirus disease-2019–associated acute respiratory distress syndrome, demands a conscientious and meticulous approach. Categorizing the respiratory failure in coronavirus disease-2019 may facilitate the process of evaluation for the purpose of transplant. The progress in rescue transplants over the past two decades has greatly improved our ability to successfully perform high-risk lung transplantation.