Impella saves lives in STEMI with shock, but with major risks (DanGer Shock)
What’s more dangerous than an Impella? Cardiogenic shock
Patients with acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction with cardiogenic shock treated with the Impella CP flow pump for mechanical circulatory support had increased survival at 6 months compared to those receiving standard care, the DanGer Shock randomized trial showed.
The results were a redemption of sorts for the Impella device, some models of which (including the Impella CP) were flagged by a Class I labeling recall after FDA associated 49 deaths with the devices.
Patients receiving the Impella device had a large number of adverse events, but in the final analysis, the Impella CP’s benefits appeared to outweigh its serious risks for this specific indication.
About 50% of patients with cardiogenic shock following acute myocardial infarction die within one month. Those outcomes have not improved over decades, despite the large gains in cardiovascular care and outcomes generally over time.
DanGer Shock was limited to patients with ST-elevation MI, and lead investigators cautioned agains…
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