Echocardiographic image monitoring during Impella use: our experience

Abstract

Abstract Funding Acknowledgements None. Introduction Impella CP is a type of percutaneous left ventricular (LV) mechanical circulatory support located inside LV and placed through the aortic valve. There is little information about the incidence of valvular complications related to its use or other complications assessable by echocardiography. Purpose To determine the existence of complications assessable by echocardiography in patients treated with Impella CP in our centre. Methods Retrospective analysis of patients treated with Impella CP in 2020 and 2021 in our centre. Baseline clinical characteristics were studied and pre- and post-procedure echocardiograms of these patients were reviewed. Results A total of 32 echocardiograms were analysed in 16 patients with a mean age of 70 years. Clinical and echocardiographic features are described in table 1. After device removal, the presence or degree of aortic regurgitation did not change in the patients, including 2 patients who had moderate aortic regurgitation pre-implantation. However, on echocardiograms after device removal, intraventricular thrombus was detected in 2 patients, who also had severe LV systolic dysfunction and who had the longest duration in days of implantation (6 and 7 days). The mean number of days of implantation was 1.68 days. Conclusion Echocardiography is a useful tool for the management and detection of complications during the time of support with Impella CP, such as valve dysfunction and the presence of intraventricular thrombus. In our centre, the use of Impella is not related to the onset or worsening of aortic valve pathology.