Prognostic implication of risk scoring systems in patients with cardiogenic shock supported by ECMO and Impella

We experienced two refractory cardiogenic shock patients receiving veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation and Impella percutaneous left ventricular assist device (ECPELLA). TVAD score, which was originally proposed to predict one-year mortality following left ventricular assist device implantation using four objective parameters, was retrospectively calculated using data of day 3 following ECPELLA initiations. One patient with estimated intermediate risk could achieve successful explantation of ECPELLA, whereas another patient with estimated high risk was expired despite explantation of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. TVAD score might be a useful tool to risk stratify and construct next strategy (i.e., bridge to recovery or bridge to more intensive therapy) for those with ECPELLA, although further studies are warranted to validate this hypothesis.