Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 24, 2026

Point-of-Care Ultrasound for Peripheral Veno-Arterial Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Without Left Ventricular Venting
Published on: January 17, 2025
Impella and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation: a demanding combination
Sylvain Beurtheret1, Pierre Mordant, Alain Pavie
1Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Pitié Salpêtrière Hospital, Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Paris, Université Paris VI Pierre et Marie Curie, France. sylvainbeurtheret@gmail.com
Abstract:
We report the case of a 34-year-old woman admitted in our institution for cardiogenic shock related to acute myocarditis. Initial hemodynamic instability required mechanical ventilation and peripheral venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). Secondary acute pulmonary edema after ECMO implantation required emergency left ventricular decompression with a percutaneous Impella Recover LP 5.0. After a short period of improvement, an unexpected technical problem led to the Impella Recover LP 5.0 arrest. The clinical situation quickly worsened, and the patient finally died. This case highlights the usefulness of Impella pump to unload left cardiac chambers but also its technical challenge when used in a patient on ECMO.
Related Concept Videos
Extracorporeal Removal of Drugs: Hemoperfusion and Hemofiltration
Oxygen Delivering System II: Venturi Mask and Transtracheal Oxygen
Venturi Mask
The Venturi mask, named after the Venturi effect, is designed to deliver precise oxygen concentrations. It consists of a large tube with an oxygen inlet that narrows down, causing a pressure drop that pulls air in through adjustable side ports. The mask is a lightweight,...
Mechanical Ventilation III: Noninvasive Ventilation
Noninvasive Positive-Pressure Ventilation (NIPPV)
Extracorporeal Removal of Drugs: Peritoneal Dialysis and Hemodialysis
Extracorporeal Removal of Drugs: Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy
Oxygen Delivering System III: Tracheostomy and T-piece
Tracheostomy
A tracheostomy is a surgically created opening (stoma) in the anterior part of the trachea. It is used to establish a patient airway, bypass an upper airway obstruction, simplify the removal of secretions, permit long-term...