Ludeman Daniel J, Schwartz Bryan G, Burstein Steven
Heart Institute, Good Samaritan Hospital, 1225 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90017-2395, USA.
J Invasive Cardiol. 2012 Jan;24(1):E19-20.
The Impella LP 2.5 left ventricular assist device (Abiomed) is safe and effective for assisting high-risk percutaneous interventions. A 77-year-old woman with severe aortic stenosis, severe coronary artery disease, an ejection fraction of 20%, severe peripheral vascular disease, and other comorbidities presented to a private, tertiary referral hospital with shortness of breath that had been worsening over 2 weeks. The patient underwent a successful, Impella-assisted balloon aortic valvuloplasty (BAV) without complications. Impella support may be considered during BAV in high-risk patients with contraindications for a TandemHeart device (CardiacAssist, Inc.).
