“Bridge to recovery”—implantation of an Impella® CP in infarct-related cardiogenic shock; [„Bridge to recovery“ – Implantation einer Impella® CP bei infarktbedingtem kardiogenem Schock]

We present the case of a 43-year-old man with the diagnosis of a posterior and anterior wall infarction who was taken to our institution after prolonged cardioplumonary resuscitation. Cardiac catheterization showed thrombotic occlusion of the LAD and a subtotal stenosis of the right coronary artery. Both lesions were revascularized by PCI. Despite catecholamine infusion, the patient developed severe cardiogenic shock with multiorgan dysfunction syndrome under therapeutic hypothermia. Thus, an Impella® CP, a percutaneous left ventricular assist device (LVAD), was implanted. Due to effective LVAD support, it was possible to wean and remove the device after 75 h of support. The impaired left ventricular ejection fraction and wall-motion abnormalities which were present on day 1 achieved complete recuperation on day 14. The patient was discharged without any neurological deficits. © 2014, Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.