Saving patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest using Impella: three case reports

Abstract

Background: The efficacy of Impella for patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest is unknown. We report the cases of three patients with cardiogenic out-of-hospital cardiac arrest who received hemodynamic support with Impella.

Case presentation: Two patients, Case 2 and Case 3, received concomitant treatment with venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation and Impella. Percutaneous coronary intervention was undertaken in two patients, Case 1 and Case 3. Two patients, Case 1 and Case 3, showed favorable neurological function with the Glasgow-Pittsburgh cerebral performance and overall performance categories score of 1 at discharge.

Conclusion: These findings suggest that Impella is effective in patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. Further studies are required to understand the use of Impella for patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.

Keywords: Cardiopulmonary resuscitation; intensive care; out‐of‐hospital cardiac arrest; ventricular assist device.