Frequently Asked Questions

Impella is an FDA-approved heart pump used to support the heart during a percutaneous revascularization procedure. An Impella heart pump-supported procedure is performed by an Interventional Cardiologist and could greatly improve heart failure and coronary artery disease (CAD) patients’ outcomes—including patients who were turned down for surgical revascularization. During a minimally invasive Impella heart pump-supported procedure, the Impella takes over the pumping function of your heart, ensuring proper blood flow to major organs. 
 

Patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) may undergo a procedure called PCI (Percutaneous Coronary Intervention), also known as angioplasty or stenting. During this non-surgical procedure, an interventional cardiologist will inflate a small balloon in the narrowed portion of the artery to re-open it and restore normal blood flow. The doctor may also place a small metal scaffold, called a stent, to keep the artery open. For some patients, stenting might not be an option. These patients will be referred for heart surgery. 

For some patients, their doctors may determine their heart disease is too severe for stenting, and too high-risk for surgery. For these patients, Protected PCI, or protected stenting, may be an option. Protected PCI with an Impella CP® with SmartAssist® is a widely accepted procedure used to temporarily assist the pumping function of the heart. Protected stenting with Impella CP provides an option for patients who are at high-risk for surgical complications and those with severe heart disease.

Impella heart pumps have been around for many years, and clinical trials have shown that an Impella heart pump-supported procedure may be beneficial for patients who are turned down for surgery. 

An interventional cardiologist inserts the Impella CP heart pump and performs the Protected PCI. They may collaborate with heart surgeons and heart failure cardiologists on the best treatment plan.

Protected PCI is performed in the Cardiac Catheterization Lab, or “Cath Lab”. This suite is where angiograms are performed, as there is special X-ray equipment used for the procedure. 

No. The Protected PCI is done in the Cardiac Catheterization Lab, or “Cath Lab,” and is considered a minimally-invasive procedure.

You will likely not be put to sleep, or under general anesthesia, for the procedure but will likely have some sedation that may make you feel drowsy.

Typically, a small puncture is made in an artery in your groin (the top of your leg) and the device is inserted through a sheath about the size of a pencil. The physician may also make another puncture in your wrist like in typical heart catheterizations.

The length of the procedure is determined by the number of blockages that require treatment. On average, most procedures last between 1.5 and 3 hours.

After the procedure, the doctor will likely remove the pump. If he/she feels it would be beneficial to “rest” your heart for a little while longer, they may choose to leave the pump in overnight. However, the device does not stay in forever and you will not go home on it.

Still have questions? Talk to your Interventional Cardiologist about whether Impella CP is right for you. For questions about Impella, connect with a member of our care team.