Heart Failure Fellow UT Health/ Memorial hermann Memorial Hermann, UTH Montgomery, Alabama, United States
Disclosure(s):
Bhanu P. Maturi, MD: No financial relationships to disclose
Background: Impella RP is a minimally invasive percutaneous microaxial pump with a vena cava inflow and pulmonary artery outflow. Flows up to 4.0 L/min enable forward flow in the pulmonary circulation and reducing right ventricle loa.The demand for such devices is increasing due to RV failure's increasing prevalence and poor outcomes.
Methods: A retrospective chart review and analysis of all patients who underwent Impella RP placement in the Memorial Hermann-TMC at UTH between January 2024 and January 2025 were performed.
Outcome: Over a period of 12 months, a total of 4 patients underwent Impella RP placement. Two of the cases were during the perioperative period of LVAD implantation, one was post-transplant, and one was for decompensated NICDM. Average days requiring impella RP support is 7.75 days. One mortality was noted in a decompensated NICDM patient. The death was related to ischemic colitis; there were no device-related deaths. Our survival rate is 75%, considering it’s a small number. No strokes, pump thrombosis, vascular site complications, local infections, or severe ventricular arrhythmias were reported.
Conclusion: Despite its limited number, our institutional experience supports the selective use of Impella. In the event of RV failure, Impella RP, when used in a prompt manner, is a valuable device that provides sufficient flow to support a failing ventricle.
