Impact of Impella Support on Clinical Outcomes in Patients with Postcardiotomy Cardiogenic Shock

Purpose: This study aimed to elucidate the strategy of an effective Impella support for better clinical outcomes in patients with a postcardiotomy cardiogenic shock (PCCS).Methods: This single-center retrospective observational study enrolled 31 patients with PCCS undergoing an elective open-heart surgery followed by Impella support between November 2018 and February 2022 for further analysis.Results: The preoperative Euroscore II and left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction were 9.1 ± 10.4 and 35.7% ± 12.6%, respectively. The in-hospital mortality rate was 51.6% (n = 16). In survivors (n = 15), the mean Impella support time was 6.9 ± 3.5 days. Patients were discharged on the postoperative day 24.9 ± 16.4. Regarding LV remodeling, LV end-diastolic diameter was significantly decreased after Impella support (59.2 ± 6.0 mm vs. 54.4 ± 4.7 mm, p = 0.01, preoperative vs. postoperative). In-hospital mortality rates were comparable with small (CP, n = 6) or large (5.0, n = 25) Impella systems (33.3% [n = 2] vs. 56.0% [n = 14], p = 0.39). However, a lower in-hospital mortality rate was observed in the group with early initiation (i.e., intraoperative) of Impella support (n = 14) than that with delayed Impella initiation (i.e., in the postoperative course) (n = 11) (28.6% [n = 4] vs. 90.9% [n = 10], p = 0.004).Conclusions: Impella support contributes to LV remodeling in PCCS patients. In-hospital mortality was comparable in different Impella sizes and lower in early Impella initiation.