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Initial 4-Year Experience with Microaxial Flow Pumps within a Tertiary Centre in Regional Australia
Thomas Quirk1, Shanathan Sritharan1, Kaylea Short1
1John Hunter Hospital Newcastle, NSW, Australia.
Heart, Lung & Circulation
|July 3, 2026
Summary
The Microaxial Flow Pump (MFP) is a safe and feasible device for treating various cardiac conditions, including cardiogenic shock and protected percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Initial results show its utility in a tertiary care setting.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Medicine
- Medical Devices
- Interventional Cardiology
Background:
- The Microaxial Flow Pump (MFP) is a miniaturized rotary pump designed to support cardiac function by aspirating blood from the left ventricle and delivering it to the ascending aorta.
- MFP serves to unload the left ventricle, thereby increasing mean arterial pressure and cardiac output.
- Common applications include cardiogenic shock, protected percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), and ventricular unloading during veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO).
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the safety and feasibility of Microaxial Flow Pump (MFP) insertion in a tertiary care setting.
- To assess the outcomes of MFP utilization across different clinical scenarios, including protected PCI, VA-ECMO support, and acute cardiogenic shock.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective review was conducted of all patients who underwent MFP insertion at John Hunter Hospital, Australia, between September 2020 and May 2024.
- Data collected included patient demographics, indications for MFP use, procedural outcomes, and complications.
- Categorical data were presented as counts and percentages, while continuous variables were described as means with standard deviations.
Main Results:
- Twenty-three MFP devices were inserted, with 65% used for acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and cardiogenic shock, 22% for protected PCI, and 13% for VA-ECMO (ECPELLA).
- The overall mortality rate was 40% in the cardiogenic shock cohort and 67% in the ECPELLA group, with no deaths in the protected PCI cohort.
- Complications included limb ischemia (17%) and site bleeding (30%) in the cardiogenic shock group, with 17% requiring vascular surgery intervention.
Conclusions:
- Initial experience indicates that the use of MFP in a tertiary center is safe and feasible.
- The MFP facilitates a range of interventions, from protected percutaneous intervention to managing acute cardiogenic shock.
