Cost, risks, process, and additional information about the Impella heart pump insertion, a mechanical device utilized for cardiac cardiac support
Heart assist devices are mechanical or electrical devices designed to support failing hearts, providing a lifeline for individuals battling advanced heart failure. Among these devices, the Impella stands out as a temporary, catheter-based solution.
A Brief Overview of Heart Assist Devices
The main types of long-term heart assist devices are left ventricular assist devices (LVADs), biventricular assist devices (Bi-VADs), and cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) devices. These devices offer durable mechanical or electrical support for patients with advanced heart failure, either as a bridge to heart transplantation or for long-term cardiac support.
LVADs are implanted pumps that assist the left ventricle in circulating blood and can sustain patients for extended periods, but carry risks such as bleeding, infection, and stroke. Bi-VADs support both the left and right ventricles and tend to be more efficient in cases of biventricular failure, particularly chronic decompensated heart failure. CRT devices are specialized pacemakers that improve heart rhythm and synchronization by pacing both ventricles simultaneously, often improving symptoms and quality of life for heart failure patients.
The Impella: A Temporary Solution
In comparison, Impella pumps (including devices like the Impella 5.5) are temporary, catheter-based microaxial flow pumps that provide short-term mechanical circulatory support by unloading the left ventricle and supporting blood flow. Unlike implanted long-term devices such as LVADs, Impella pumps are inserted percutaneously or via surgical axillary access, offering rapid deployment but designed for temporary use, typically days to weeks.
The Impella is primarily used in acute settings, such as cardiogenic shock, PCI procedures, and as a temporary solution for people awaiting heart surgery or a heart transplant. It is inserted without heart surgery, through a small incision in the leg to access the femoral artery. In some cases, a doctor can insert the Impella while a person is awake, with appropriate pain management.
Risks and Benefits
Potential risks of the Impella procedure include bleeding that may become life-threatening, damage to blood vessels, damage to the heart, liver failure, kidney failure, dangerously low blood pressure, infection (including sepsis), death, heart attack, and dangerous heart arrhythmias (irregular heartbeat). However, the Impella can help the heart rest and maintain health as they await surgery or a heart transplant.
The cost of treating people with Impella pumps has been found to increase after their introduction. It's essential to discuss the risks, benefits, treatment goals, alternative options, and the long-term prognosis for your specific condition with a healthcare professional. The Impella is only suitable for use in hospital settings.
Impact on Outcomes
When the Impella enables a person to wait longer for a necessary procedure, it can improve outcomes. However, there is no specific data showing the Impella's overall role in cardiovascular health or heart failure outcomes.
In conclusion, long-term heart assist devices provide sustained mechanical or electrical support to failing hearts over months to years, whereas Impella pumps serve as short-term, less invasive, bridging devices providing critical hemodynamic support in acute settings. While the Impella is an expensive treatment, medical insurance often covers this treatment. As with any medical procedure, it's crucial to discuss the risks and benefits with a doctor to make an informed decision.
- In the realm of cardiology, the Impella is a temporary, catheter-based heart assist device used for short-term mechanical circulatory support, offering a valuable lifeline in emergency situations like cardiogenic shock.
- Among other heart procedures, cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) devices are specialized pacemakers that improve heart rhythm and synchronization, often improving symptoms and quality of life for individuals battling heart failure.
- While discusssing medical-conditions related to cardiovascular health, it is important to note that, compared to long-term heart assist devices like left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) and biventricular assist devices (Bi-VADs), Impella pumps carry unique risks such as bleeding, damage to blood vessels, and low blood pressure, making them suitable only for hospital settings.
- In terms of health-and-wellness and the science behind heart assist devices, further research is needed to fully understand the overall role of the Impella in heart failure outcomes and cardiovascular health.
