Circulation 2022 Apr 18;145(16):1254-1284. Epub 2022 Apr 18.
Cardiac Intensive Care Unit, Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik I (E.L., A.K., K.K., L.B., C.S., S.F., T.P., D.B., S.B., J.H., S.M., M.O.), Klinikum der Universität München, and German Center for Cardiovascular Research, partner site Munich Heart Alliance.
The Impella device (Impella, Abiomed, Danvers, MA) is a percutaneous transvalvular microaxial flow pump that is currently used for (1) cardiogenic shock, (2) left ventricular unloading (combination of venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation and Impella concept), (3) high-risk percutaneous coronary interventions, (4) ablation of ventricular tachycardia, and (5) treatment of right ventricular failure. Impella-assisted forward blood flow increased mean arterial pressure and cardiac output, peripheral tissue perfusion, and coronary blood flow in observational studies and some randomized trials. However, because of the need for large-bore femoral access (14 F for the commonly used Impella CP device) and anticoagulation, the incidences of bleeding and ischemic complications are as much as 44% and 18%, respectively. Read More