The Successful Rotor Wing Transport of 2 Patients Requiring Biventricular Impella Support: A Case Series and Review.

Despite many advances in care, the mortality rate for cardiogenic shock remains high. Because the medical management of patients with cardiogenic shock is limited, many patients often require mechanical circulatory support. As such, cardiogenic shock patients requiring percutaneous ventricular support devices such as the Impella (Abiomed, Danvers, MA) may be encountered by critical care transport crews with increasing frequency. Recently, biventricular Impella support has been described as a mechanical support strategy for biventricular failure. This case series describes the successful rotor wing transport of 2 patients with severe cardiogenic shock requiring biventricular Impella support and presents a review of Impella RP (Abiomed) and biventricular Impella support devices for the critical care transport medicine clinician.

Impella in Transport: Physiology, Mechanics, Complications, and Transport Considerations.

Cardiogenic shock (CS) represents a spectrum of hemodynamic deficits in which the cardiac output is insufficient to provide adequate tissue perfusion. The Impella (Abiomed Inc, Danvers, MA) device, a contemporary percutaneous ventricular support, is most often indicated for classic, deteriorating, and extremis Society for Coronary Angiography and Intervention stages of CS, which describe CS that is not responsive to optimal medical management and conventional treatment measures. Impella devices are an evolving field of mechanical support that is used with increasing frequency. Critical care transport medicine crews are required to transport patient support by the Impella device with increasing frequency. It is important that critical care transport medicine crews are familiar with the Impella device and are able to troubleshoot complications that may arise in the transport environment. This article reviews many aspects of the Impella device critical to the transport of this complex patient population.