In June 2020, Northwestern Memorial Hospital conducted the first double lung transplant on a COVID-19 patient in the US, in what was described as a “milestone”. The patient was young, in their twenties, yet had spent 6 weeks on a ventilator. A series of double lung transplants has been completed since, with recovered patients now breathing normally.

In this episode, Dr Ankit Bharat, Chief of Thoracic Surgery at Northwestern Memorial, reveals the risks and challenges involved in performing the complex surgery on abnormal anatomy, described as "charred", "fused" and "overcooked steak", and what others may learn from his experiences. This episode was recorded in partnership with Northwestern Medicine.