title: Impella ventricular support in clinical practice: Collaborative viewpoint from a European expert user group.
abstract: Mechanical circulatory support represents an evolving field of clinical research and practice. Currently, several cardiac assist devices have been developed but, among different institutions and countries, a large variation in indications for use and device selection exists. The Impella platform is an easy to use percutaneous circulatory support device which is increasingly used worldwide. During 2014, we established a working group of European physicians who have collected considerable experience with the Impella device in recent years. By critically comparing the individual experiences and the operative protocols, this working group attempted to establish the best clinical practice with the technology. The present paper reviews the main theoretical principles of Impella and provides an up-to-date summary of the best practical aspects of device use which may help others gain the maximal advantage with Impella technology in a variety of clinical settings.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Burzotta
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Trani
authors.affiliation: Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Sagar N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Doshi
authors.affiliation: Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Townend
authors.affiliation: Erasmus Medical Center, Thoraxcenter, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Robert Jan
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: van Geuns
authors.affiliation: Universitätsspital Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hunziker
authors.affiliation: Universitäres Herzzentrum Marburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Bernhard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Schieffer
authors.affiliation: Universitäres Herzzentrum Marburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Konstantinos
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Karatolios
authors.affiliation: Odense Universitetshospital, Odense, Denmark.
authors.forename: Jacob Eifer
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Møller
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, University of Verona, Italy.
authors.forename: Flavio L
authors.initials: FL
authors.lastname: Ribichini
authors.affiliation: Medizinische Hochschule, Hannover, Germany.
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Schäfer
authors.affiliation: Academic Medical Center, Department of Cardiology - University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Electronic address: j.p.henriques@amc.uva.nl.
authors.forename: José P S
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Henriques
mesh_terms: D004867:Equipment Design; D006353:Heart-Assist Devices; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D012770:Shock, Cardiogenic / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*
keywords: Acute myocardial infarction; Cardiogenic shock; Expert group; High-risk PCI; Impella; Mechanical support