The Impella ventricular assist device: use in patients at high risk for coronary interventions: successful multivessel percutaneous coronary intervention in a 62-year-old high-risk patient

The Impella Recover LP 2.5 (Abiomed, Danvers, MA, USA) is a ventricular assist device that is easily placed and has low adverse events. It helps unload myocardial demand and enables revascularization in patients who are otherwise at extreme risk for percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). It breaks the cycle of cardiogenic shock and is indicated in patients with low ejection fraction (EF), acute heart failure, and concurrent high-risk factors for intervention or surgery. Many case reports have been published regarding use of this device in high-risk PCIs, but successful intervention in two high-risk vessels in one setting has rarely been reported. We describe such a case report here where two critical lesions in LAD and circumflex arteries were successfully intervened on with the assistance of this device.