MitraClip to Treat Severe Ischemic Mitral Regurgitation During Impella CP Support in a 70-Year-Old Woman

Mechanical Support Strategies for High-Risk Procedures in the Invasive Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory: A State-of-the-Art Review

Thanks to advancements in percutaneous cardiac interventions, an expanding patient population now qualifies for treatment through percutaneous endovascular procedures. High-risk interventions far exceed coronary interventions and include transcatheter aortic valve replacement, endovascular management of acute pulmonary embolism and ventricular tachycardia ablation. Given the frequent impairment of ventricular function in these patients, frequently deteriorating during percutaneous interventions, it is hypothesized that mechanical ventricular support may improve periprocedural survival and subsequently patient outcome. In this narrative review, we aimed to provide the relevant evidence found for the clinical use of percutaneous mechanical circulatory support (pMCS). We searched the Pubmed database for articles related to pMCS and to pMCS and invasive cath lab procedures. The articles and their references were evaluated for relevance. We provide an overview of the clinically relevant evidence for intra-aortic balloon pump, Impella, TandemHeart and ECMO and their role as pMCS in high-risk percutaneous coronary intervention, transcatheter valvular procedures, ablations and high-risk pulmonary embolism. We found that the right choice of periprocedural pMCS could provide a solution for the hemodynamic challenges during these procedures. However, to enhance the understanding of the safety and effectiveness of pMCS devices in an often high-risk population, more randomized research is needed.

The Therapeutic Use of Impella Device in Cardiogenic Shock: A Systematic Review

Impella (Abiomed, Danvers, MA) devices nowadays have been linked to cardiogenic shock (CS) due to the importance of their use as therapeutic instruments. This study aims to review pathophysiologic mechanisms of cardiogenic shock and the implementation of Impella to overcome this condition. To investigate several different types of studies and analyze the use of Impella device in cardiogenic shock and the outcomes of heart malfunctioning and determine its positive and negative impacts as a therapeutic tool in cardiac ischemia and use as a resource in critical patients, we conducted a systematic review through different databases (PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar) following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) checklist and used the Medical Subjects Heading (MeSH) search strategy to obtain significant articles. We found 883 papers in total, and after removing duplicates, applying inclusion/exclusion criteria, and finding the most significant information, we ended up with 30 articles that were reviewed containing information about the impact of Impella device in cardiogenic shock in different locations. The study strongly concludes that Impella device in the setting of cardiogenic shock has more advantages than disadvantages in terms of outcomes and complications as a non-pharmacologic tool. Improvements in left ventricular ejection fraction and signs and symptoms of cardiogenic shock criteria were determinants. Nevertheless, complications during the implementation and use of the device were established; in this manner, the evaluation and treatment of each patient separately are imperative. Consequently, more studies on this relevant topic are needed.

Case series of transcatherter edge-to-edge repair using MitraClip™ system with Impella® mechanical circulatory support

BACKGROUND

Secondary mitral regurgitation (SMR) is a major comorbidity in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). Transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (TEER) using the MitraClip™ system is a promising tool for selected patients with SMR and HFrEF. Durable success using this system in patients who have advanced heart failure and unsuitable anatomy remains a clinical challenge.

CASE SUMMARY

Three patients aged 67-72 years with HFrEF on inotropic support successfully underwent Impella®-assisted TEER at our centre. Following the procedure, two patients were able to be weaned off inotropic support and were discharged, while one patient expired during the index hospitalization.

DISCUSSION

Impella®-assisted TEER may be a feasible strategy for patients with SMR and HFrEF with unstable haemodynamics particularly when cardiac replacement therapy is not applicable.

Hemodynamic assessment and risk classification for successful weaning of Impella in patients with cardiogenic shock

BACKGROUND

Clinical predictors for successful weaning of patients from Impella heart pump have not been clarified. We aimed to elucidate the relationship between pulmonary artery catheter (PAC) parameters at the time of Impella weaning and subsequent outcomes.

METHODS

We enrolled consecutive patients who had received Impella for cardiogenic shock. PAC data were collected immediately before Impella weaning. Patients were classified as non-survivors if they died or required any mechanical circulatory support reintroduction within 30 days of weaning.

RESULTS

Of 81 patients enrolled, 61 underwent Impella weaning. Of these, 16 were non-survivors. Predictive indicators of non-survival were high pulmonary artery wedge pressure (PAWP; hazard ratio [HR] per 5 mmHg 1.97, 95% CI 1.35-2.80; p < 0.001), high mean pulmonary artery pressure (MPAP; HR per 5 mmHg 1.90, 1.38-2.58; p < 0.001), and low cardiac power output (CPO; HR per 0.1 Watts 0.71, 0.52-0.92; p = 0.006). Cutoff values of PAWP 20 mmHg, MPAP 22 mmHg, and CPO 0.59 Watts showed strong associations with 30-day non-survival risk (low risk 8% in patients with low PAWP and high CPO or 4% in patients with low MPAP and high CPO; high risk 100% in patients with high PAWP and low CPO or 82% in patients with high MPAP and low CPO).

CONCLUSIONS

PAWP or MPAP higher than the cutoff with CPO below the cutoff at Impella weaning were associated with worse outcomes. We proposed a risk classification model for successful Impella weaning using PAC.