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Updated: Apr 28, 2026

Utilizing Percutaneous Ventricular Assist Devices in Acute Myocardial Infarction Complicated by Cardiogenic Shock
Published on: June 12, 2021
A bailout approach: Transaxillary Impella implantation in toxic cardiomyopathy
Feras Khaliel1, Emmanuel Moss1, Philippe Demers1
1Department of Cardiac Surgery, Montreal Heart Institute and University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
Abstract:
The femoral artery has been the traditional approach for implantation of the Impella left ventricular assist device. We describe the case of a young man with toxic (cocaine-related) cardiomyopathy, severe left ventricular dysfunction, and moderate mitral insufficiency who received a transfemoral Impella left ventricular assist device that was relocated to the right axillary artery due to uncontrolled femoral access bleeding. The patient immediately stabilized post-implantation and was successfully bridged to a full recovery 6 days later.
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