Impella

The Impella is a small ventricular assistance device. This means that it supports the functioning of the ventricles. These are the lower chambers of the heart that pump blood out of the heart and to the body.

It can help with heart failure and other heart conditions.

There are three key reasonsTrusted Source why a person may need an Impella. They include:

• Heart failure: An enlarged and weak heart cannot effectively pump blood throughout the body, but the Impella can help improve blood flow. A doctor may recommend it to someone awaiting heart surgery or a heart transplant.
• Cardiogenic shock: A heart attack and some other emergencies can cause cardiogenic shock, which hinders the heart’s ability to pump blood. The Impella pumps blood through the ventricles, allowing the left ventricle to rest and improving the chances of recovering from cardiogenic shock.
• PCI: PCI procedures involve surgeons placing stents or balloons to treat blocked arteries. They can save lives, but they can also pose risks for people with heart health issues. The Impella can help sustain blood flow through the organ during these procedures.

Unlike some other heart pumps, the Impella does not requireTrusted Source heart surgery for insertion.

Instead, the doctor makes a small incision in the leg to access the femoral artery. They then thread the pump into the left ventricle via the femoral artery.