Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation and microaxial left ventricular assist device in cardiogenic shock: Choosing the right mechanical circulatory support to improve outcomes

Objective: To evaluate the outcomes of patients supported with Impella (CP/5.0) or venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) for cardiogenic shock according to shock phenotype. The primary end point was 30-day survival. Methods: A retrospective study of patients supported with Impella (CP/5.0) or VAECMO between 2010 and 2020 was performed. Patients were grouped according to 1 of 2 shock phenotypes: isolated left ventricular (LV) dysfunction versus biventricular dysfunction or multiple organ failure (MOF). The local practice favors Impella for isolated LV dysfunction and VA-ECMO for biventricular dysfunction or MOF. Results: Among the 75 patients included, 17 (23%) % ) had isolated LV dysfunction. Patients with biventricular dysfunction or MOF had a greater median lactate level compared with those with isolated LV dysfunction (7.9 [2.9-11.8] vs 3.8 [1.1-5.8] mmol/L, respectively). Among patients with isolated LV dysfunction, 30-day survival was 46% % for the Impella group (n = 13) and 75% % for VA-ECMO (n = 4). Among patients with biventricular dysfunction or MOF, 30-day survival was 9% % for the Impella group (n = 11) and 28% % for VA-ECMO (n = 47). Patients supported with Impella 5.0 had better 30-day survival compared with those supported with Impella CP, for both shock phenotypes (83% % vs 14% % and 14% % vs 0%, % , respectively). Conclusions: In this small cohort, patients supported with Impella for isolated LV dysfunction and VA-ECMO for biventricular dysfunction or MOF had acceptable survival at 30 days. Patients with biventricular dysfunction or MOF who were supported by Impella had the lowest survival rates. Patients with isolated LV dysfunction who were supported with VA-ECMO had good 30-day survival. (JTCVS Open 2023;13:200-13)