First Canadian experience with high-risk percutaneous coronary intervention with assistance of a percutaneously deployed left ventricular assist device.

Mechanical assist devices play an increasing role in high-risk percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in highly complex and critically ill patients. The Impella Recover LP 2.5 is a minimally invasive left ventricular assist device that is inserted percutaneously via a 13 Fr sheath. The device is engineered to provide a significant increase in cardiac output in patients with severe left ventricular impairment as well as in patients undergoing high-risk coronary intervention, and may provide substantive circulatory support when severe hemodynamic compromise occurs. It can potentially be maintained in situ for five to seven days. Canada's first implantations of an Impella device providing circulatory support in patients undergoing complex, high-risk PCI are reported. Larger studies will be required to identify whether a survival benefit or improvement in left ventricular function can be achieved when using the Impella device to support patients undergoing high-risk PCI or those in cardiogenic shock.