Mechanical circulatory support. An expert opinion statement from the Association of Intensive Cardiac Care and Association of Cardiovascular Interventions of the Polish Cardiac Society

Kardiol Pol. 2021 Dec 3. doi: 10.33963/KP.a2021.0169. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTMechanical circulatory support (MCS) methods are used in patients with both acute and chronic heart failure, who have depleted the options for pharmacological or surgical treatment. The purpose of their use is to partially or completely support the failure ventricles and ensure adequate organ perfusion, which allows patients to restore full cardiovascular capacity, prolonging life and effectively improving its quality. Three most popular devices include intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP), percutaneous assist devices (including Impella, TandemHeart), and venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO). A multidisciplinary approach with the special participation of the Heart Team is required in order to determine the proper MCS strategy, the choice of the supporting method, and the time of its use. The studies published so far do not allow to clearly determine which MCS method is the safest and the most effective. Thus, the site experience and accessibility of the method seem to matter most today. MCS finds particular application in patients with acute coronary syndromes complicated by refractory cardiogenic shock, as well as in patients with acute heart failure of the high potential for reversibility. They can also serve as a back-up for percutaneous coronary interventions of high risk (complex and high-risk indicated PCI, CHIP). The use of appropriate supportive drugs, precise haemody...
Source: Polish Heart Journal - Category: Cardiology Authors: Source Type: research