Combined use of Impella device and intra-aortic balloon pump to improve survival in a patient in profound cardiogenic shock post cardiac arrest.

Patients who suffer cardiogenic shock after cardiac arrest have a very poor prognosis. Left ventricular assist devices have proven to be useful in these patients to improve survival. Recently introduced percutaneous assist devices are easier to use and can be inserted quickly in the catheterization laboratory. We describe a case where intra-aortic balloon pump by itself was not enough to provide hemodynamic support in a patient with cardiogenic shock after cardiac arrest. The Impella Recover LP 2.5 system (ABIOMED, Inc., Danvers, MA) was successfully used along with the balloon pump for hemodynamic support and resulted in dramatic improvement of the patient's condition. Copyright 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc.