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Use of a Percutaneous Ventricular Assist Device/Left Atrium to Femoral Artery Bypass System for Cardiogenic Shock
07:39

Use of a Percutaneous Ventricular Assist Device/Left Atrium to Femoral Artery Bypass System for Cardiogenic Shock

Published on: August 16, 2021

Clinical introduction of the Tandemheart, a percutaneous left ventricular assist device, for circulatory support

Pascal Vranckx1, David P Foley, Pim J de Feijter

  • 1Department of Cardiology, Thoraxcenter, Erasmus, Medical Centre, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.

International Journal of Cardiovascular Interventions
|March 8, 2003
PubMed

Insights

The Tandem-heart device effectively supports patients during high-risk percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), maintaining hemodynamic stability and showing promising results for future use in cardiac interventions.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Medicine
  • Interventional Cardiology
  • Medical Device Technology

Background:

  • Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) poses hemodynamic risks for patients with poor left ventricular function and complex coronary lesions.
  • Prolonged ischemia during PCI can lead to significant adverse hemodynamic consequences.
  • The Tandem-heart is a percutaneous left ventricular assist device designed for short-term circulatory support.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the safety and efficacy of the Tandem-heart device for circulatory support during elective high-risk percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).
  • To assess the device's ability to maintain hemodynamic stability in patients undergoing complex PCI procedures.

Main Methods:

  • The Tandem-heart device, featuring specific arterial and transseptal cannulae and a centrifugal blood pump, was electively used in three male patients undergoing high-risk PCI.
  • The device withdraws oxygenated blood from the left atrium and delivers it to the arterial circulation.
  • Hemodynamic parameters and device performance, including pump flow and duration of support, were monitored.

Main Results:

  • Procedural success was 100% in all three patients.
  • Systemic hemodynamics significantly improved prior to PCI in two patients.
  • Mean pump flow was 3.17 liters/min, with a mean support duration of 33 hours. No significant hemolysis or bleeding occurred. All patients were successfully weaned and remained event-free for up to seven months.

Conclusions:

  • The Tandem-heart device demonstrated ease of insertion and effective preservation of hemodynamic stability during high-risk PCI.
  • The device's performance was independent of the patients' intrinsic cardiac function.
  • This initial clinical experience suggests optimism for broader application of the Tandem-heart in PCI and other indications.
Abstract

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