Abstract 16172: Impella Use in Large Post-Infarct Ventricular Septal Rupture

Abstract

Background: Ventricular Septal Rupture (VSR) is a deleterious complication associated with myocardial infarction (MI). The most common form of mechanical circulatory support (MCS) utilized in post-MI complications is intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP). Impella is a far less commonly used modality as there is the potential for right-to-left shunting and a chance of mechanical perforation of the heart. Below is a case where an Impella 5.5 catheter was necessary to bridge a patient for surgical repair. Case presentation: A 76-year-old male patient presented to an outside hospital with an acute inferior ST-elevation myocardial infarction. He was treated with thrombolysis and was emergently taken to the catheterization lab where he underwent stenting of his RCA with plan to medically manage his non-culprit disease. His hospital course was complicated by cardiogenic shock with an echocardiogram that demonstrated a large VSR (Figure 1). A right heart catheterization demonstrated a significant left-to-right shunt (Qp/Qs ratio of 6:1) which necessitated mechanical support with an IABP as per standard of care. Post-IABP his Qp/Qs ratio improved to 1.6:1 but he continued to be under supported and remained in cardiogenic shock. Surgical repair of the VSR was planned for 1-week post-MI so he was transitioned to an Impella 5.5 catheter in order to stabilize and bridge him for surgery. Patient underwent surgical VSR repair and CABG on hospital day 7. Post-op he did well and was later discharged to rehabilitation center with subsequent recovery. Conclusions: If properly managed, utilization of an Impella catheter can be an effective tool to stabilize patients in post-MI VSR with refractory cardiogenic shock and bridge patients towards surgical repair. It is particularly effective when additional MCS support is required beyond the contemporary IABP and it can be used to stabilize patients for longer durations to ultimately avoid emergent surgery.