Left ventricular mechanical support with the Impella Recover left direct microaxial blood pump: a single-center experience.
The Impella Recover left direct (LD) is a new intravascular microaxial blood pump, intended as a short-term mechanical support especially in case of acutely reduced left ventricular function. From September 2002 to October 2004, Impella was used to support 12 patients: six patients were supported as bridge-to-heart transplant (HTx); three patients were treated for fulminant acute myocarditis, and three patients for postcardiotomy low-output syndrome. Mean support time was 8.8 +/- 2.3 days. Overall mortality was 50%. Four patients were successfully HTxed; two patients supported as bridge-to-HTx died on left ventricular assist device. Two patients with myocarditis died of septic shock; two patients in the group of postcardiotomy died of multiorgan failure. The latter two patients were slowly weaned from the device, and at 3-months follow-up showed good improvement of the left ventricular function. Our initial experience with Impella Recover LD as mechanical support for patients in cardiogenic shock of various etiology is promising, yielding a good survival in a population of particularly compromised patients.
Garatti
Andrea
A
Division of Cardiac Surgery, Department A. De Gasperis, Niguarda Ca'Granda Hospital, Milan, Italy. agaratti@tiscali.it
Colombo
Tiziano
T
Russo
Claudio
C
Lanfranconi
Marco
M
Milazzo
Filippo
F
Catena
Emanuele
E
Bruschi
Giuseppe
G
Frigerio
Maria
M
Vitali
Ettore
E
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003710:Demography; D005260:Female; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006353:Heart-Assist Devices; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D018487:Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D016276:Ventricular Function