Restoration of Epicardial Blood Flow After Left Ventricular Unloading With the Impella CP Heart Pump in a Patient With STEMI Treated With Surgical Revascularization

Tex Heart Inst J. 2024 May 28;51(1):e238322. doi: 10.14503/THIJ-23-8322.

Abstract

Left main occlusion presenting as ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction is an exceedingly morbid condition. This article reports a case of cardiac arrest in a patient after a treadmill stress test. Coronary angiography revealed 100% occlusion of the left main coronary artery. Left ventricular unloading with the Impella CP heart pump (ABIOMED/Johnson & Johnson MedTech) was used, after which epicardial blood flow was restored without angioplasty. The patient underwent surgical revascularization. Despite a prolonged revascularization time, there was no evidence of severe myocardial injury postoperatively.

Keywords: Coronary occlusion; myocardial infarction; myocardial reperfusion injury.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Coronary Angiography*
  • Coronary Circulation* / physiology
  • Coronary Occlusion / complications
  • Coronary Occlusion / diagnosis
  • Coronary Occlusion / physiopathology
  • Coronary Occlusion / surgery
  • Electrocardiography
  • Female
  • Heart-Assist Devices*
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Myocardial Revascularization / methods
  • Pericardium / physiopathology
  • Prosthesis Design
  • Recovery of Function
  • ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction* / diagnosis
  • ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction* / physiopathology
  • ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction* / surgery
  • ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction* / therapy
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Ventricular Function, Left* / physiology