Role of acquired von Willebrand syndrome in the development of bleeding complications in patients treated with Impella RP devices

Axial flow pumps are standard treatment in cases of cardiogenic shock and high-risk interventions in cardiology and cardiac surgery, although the optimal anticoagulation strategy remains unclear. We evaluated whether laboratory findings could predict bleeding complications and acquired von Willebrand syndrome (avWS) among patients who were treated using axial flow pumps. We retrospectively evaluated 60 consecutive patients who received Impella devices (Impella RP: n = 20, Impella CP/5.0: n = 40; Abiomed Inc., Danvers, USA) between January 2019 and December 2020. Thirty-two patients (53.3%) experienced major or fatal bleeding complications (Bleeding Academic Research Consortium score of > 3) despite intravenous heparin being used to maintain normal activated partial thromboplastin times (40–50 s). Extensive testing was performed for 28 patients with bleeding complications (87.5%). Relative to patients with left ventricular support, patients with right ventricular support were less likely to develop avWS (87.5% vs. 58.8%, p = 0.035). Bleeding was significantly associated with avWS (odds ratio [OR]: 20.8, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 3.3–128.5; p = 0.001) and treatment duration (OR: 1.3, 95% CI 1.09–1.55; p = 0.003). Patients with avWS had longer Impella treatment than patients without avWS (2 days [1–4.7 days] vs. 7.3 days [3.2–13.0 days]). Bleeding complications during Impella support were associated with avWS in our cohort, while aPTT monitoring was not sufficient to prevent bleeding complications. A more targeted anticoagulation monitoring might be needed for patients who receive Impella devices.

Acute Effects of Left Ventricular Support With Impella 5.5 on Biventricular Hemodynamics

Identification of patients with cardiogenic shock and right ventricle (RV) dysfunction who may require biventricular rather than isolated left ventricular (LV) support remains challenging. In this setting, rigorous hemodynamic evaluation of biventricular contractility and load during initiation of LV support guides therapy. We now report a novel approach to assess biventricular pressure-volume loops in a patient receiving Impella 5.5 support for heart failure and shock.

Single access in complex angioplasty using the ventricular support system Impella CP™

The volume of complex coronary interventions has grown in Brazil and worldwide. Since they are performed in patients at increasingly higher risks, new techniques have been developed when interventional cardiologists are faced with uncommon situations, such as no safe arterial access for the procedure. We report a case of a patient with severe peripheral artery disease and occluded right femoral artery, in whom a single access (left femoral artery) was used for positioning the Impella™ and the guidewire for angioplasty.

Role of Acquired Von Willebrand Syndrome in Patients Treated Using Impella RP® Devices: A Retrospective Cohort Study

Background: Axial flow pumps are standard treatment in cases of cardiogenic shock and high-risk interventions in cardiology and cardiac surgery, although the optimal anticoagulation strategy remains unclear. We evaluated whether laboratory findings could predict bleeding complications and acquired von Willebrand syndrome (avWS) among patients who were treated using axial flow pumps.Methods and Results: We retrospectively evaluated 60 consecutive patients who received Impella® devices (Impella® RP: n=20, Impella® CP/5.0: n=40; Abiomed Inc., Danvers, USA) between January 2019 and December 2020. Thirty-two patients (53.3%) experienced major or fatal bleeding complications (Bleeding Academic Research Consortium score of >3) despite intravenous heparin being used to maintain normal activated partial thromboplastin times (40–50 s). Extensive testing was performed for 28 patients with bleeding complications (87.5%). Relative to patients with left ventricular support, patients with right ventricular support were less likely to develop avWS (87.5% vs. 58.8%, p=0.035). Bleeding was significantly associated with avWS (odds ratio [OR]: 20.8, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 3.3–128.5; p=0.001) and treatment duration (OR: 1.3, 95% CI: 1.09–1.55; p=0.003). Patients with avWS had longer Impella® treatment than patients without avWS (2 days [1–4.7 days] vs. 7.3 days [3.2–13.0 days]). Conclusions: Anticoagulation monitoring based on aPTT was not sufficient to prevent bleeding complications during axial flow pump support. A more targeted anticoagulation monitoring is needed for patients who receive Impella® devices.