Impella Mechanical Circulatory Support for Takotsubo Syndrome With Shock: A Retrospective Multicenter Analysis.

OBJECTIVES: To analyze the characteristics and outcome of Impella mechanical circulatory support (MCS) for Takotsubo syndrome (TS) with cardiogenic shock. BACKGROUND: TS is an acute heart failure syndrome characterized by transient severe reduction of left ventricular (LV) systolic function, with cardiogenic shock occurring in around 10% of patients. Since inotropes should be avoided due to their role in TS pathogenesis and aggravation of LV outflow tract obstruction, the use of MCS as treatment is a viable treatment option, however, studies are lacking. METHODS: The catheter-based ventricular assist device (cVAD) registry and local MCS databases were screened for TS patients with cardiogenic shock (TS-CS) supported with an Impella percutaneous ventricular assist device (pVAD). Patient and treatment characteristics and in-hospital outcomes were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: At 10 US and European centers, 16 TS-CS patients supported with an Impella pVAD were identified between December 2013 and May 2018 (mean age, 61.8 ± 15.5 years; 87.5% women). LV ejection fraction (LVEF) at presentation was severely reduced (mean, 19.4 ± 8.3%). Prior to MCS, 13 patients (81.3%) were mechanically ventilated, 4 patients (25.0%) had been resuscitated, and mean serum lactate was 4.7 ± 3.5 mmol/L. Mean duration of Impella support was 1.9 ± 1.0 days (range, 1-4 days). Thirteen patients (81.3%) survived to discharge, and all survivors experienced cardiac recovery with significant improvement of LVEF at discharge compared to baseline (20.4 ± 8.8 vs. 52.9 ± 12.0, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: This is the first series of TS-CS patients supported with an Impella pVAD. Mortality was low, and LV systolic function recovered in all survivors. Prospective studies of Impella support in this special condition are warranted.

Outcomes of bailout percutaneous ventricular assist device versus prophylactic strategy in patients undergoing nonemergent percutaneous coronary intervention.

OBJECTIVES: To compare in-hospital outcomes of bailout support to prophylactic support with percutaneous ventricular assist devices (pVAD) for high-risk nonemergent percutaneous coronary intervention (HRPCI). BACKGROUND: Prophylactic support with pVAD for a HRPCI is used in patients felt to be at risk for hemodynamic collapse during PCI. An alternative strategy of bailout pVAD support in the event of hemodynamic collapse is also entertained. METHODS: We compared the outcomes of patients entered in the cVAD database who underwent Impella Protected PCI (ProPCI group) with patients from the cVAD and USpella databases receiving bailout Impella support for hemodynamic collapse during HRPCI (Bailout group). RESULTS: A total of 1,028 patients supported with Impella pVAD were entered into the cVAD database as of July 2019 and were included in this analysis. Of those 971 were in the ProPCI group and 57 in the Bailout group. Patients in the Bailout group were more often female (50.9%vs. 27.2%, p = .0002) with higher median baseline left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) (40%vs. 30%, p < .0001) and with lower prevalence of both heart failure (42.1%vs. 56.9%, p = .0385) and left main disease (40.0%vs. 56.1%, p = .0250) compared to the ProPCI group. Unadjusted and adjusted in-hospital mortality was significantly higher in the Bailout group (49.1%vs. 4.3%, and 57.8%vs. 4.4%, p < .0001 for both). CONCLUSIONS: In our study population, the bailout group was associated with significant increased mortality compared to ProPCI group. Female gender was more frequently observed in patients requiring bailout pVAD. Further investigation is warranted in order to generalize the findings of our study.