Timing, positioning and ancillary therapies: the triad for successful Impella RP.

Abstract

Clear clinical guidelines for the assessment and treatment of right ventricular failure (RVF) remain an unmet need. Although high complexity patients are common in this setting, the ideal management remains uncertain, resulting in high mortality rates despite presumably optimal medical therapy. Timely treatment with Impella RP may offer benefits by supplying circulatory support during the acute RVF phase and providing the time and unloading necessary for native right heart recovery. As such, mastering the technicalities and ancillary therapies is crucial to best utilize this salvage opportunity, particularly in these high complexity patients. Here, we report three different clinical scenarios of medically refractory RVF supported with Impella RP to provide examples and discuss the contribution of mechanical RV support to patient outcomes.