Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 25, 2026
Use of a Percutaneous Ventricular Assist Device/Left Atrium to Femoral Artery Bypass System for Cardiogenic Shock
Published on: August 16, 2021
Hemodynamic support with a percutaneous left ventricular assist device during stenting of an unprotected left main
Biswajit Kar1, Alexander Butkevich, Andrew B Civitello
1Division of Cardiology, St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital, Texas Heart Institute, Houston, Texas 77030, USA. bkar6@aol.com
Insights
Percutaneous coronary intervention with hemodynamic support offers a novel treatment for unprotected left main coronary artery stenosis in high-risk patients unsuitable for surgery. This approach may improve survival for these challenging cases.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Interventional Cardiology
- Medical Devices
Background:
- Left main coronary artery stenosis significantly impacts survival.
- Coronary artery bypass grafting is the standard treatment but is not suitable for all patients.
- High-risk patients often lack revascularization options.
Observation:
- A novel technique utilizing the TandemHeart percutaneous left ventricular assist device was employed.
- The device provided hemodynamic support during angioplasty and stenting of an unprotected left main coronary artery.
- This procedure was performed on a 70-year-old woman with significant comorbidities.
Findings:
- The percutaneous revascularization procedure was successful.
- The TandemHeart device was removed immediately post-procedure.
- The patient was discharged on the second postprocedural day with no immediate complications.
Implications:
- Percutaneous left ventricular assist devices may offer a viable alternative for high-risk patients with unprotected left main coronary artery stenosis.
- This technique could expand treatment options for patients ineligible for traditional surgery.
- Further research is warranted to evaluate the long-term efficacy and safety of this approach.
Abstract:
Coronary artery bypass grafting prolongs survival in patients with left main coronary artery stenosis. However, this benefit is denied to patients who refuse the procedure or who are poor surgical candidates due to comorbid conditions. We describe a novel technique for the percutaneous revascularization of stenosis in an unprotected left main coronary artery in high-risk patients. The TandemHeart, a percutaneously inserted left ventricular assist device, was used to provide periprocedural hemodynamic support during angioplasty and stenting of an unprotected left main coronary artery for stenosis in a 70-year-old woman. The device was removed immediately after the procedure, and the patient was discharged from the hospital on the 2nd postprocedural day. The potential advantages of angioplasty with the support of percutaneous left ventricular assist devices in high-risk patients are discussed.
