Successful treatment of cardiogenic shock due to Takotsubo syndrome with implantation of a temporary microaxial left ventricular assist device in transaxillary approach

OBJECTIVES

Cardiogenic shock (CS) can occur in patients with Takotsubo syndrome (TTS). As TTS has received increasing attention and has been more closely researched, several aspects of the pathogenesis have been identified, particularly that an excessive release of catecholamines plays an important role. Nevertheless, evidence on specific therapy concepts is still lacking. As a result, TTS with severe hemodynamic instability and low cardiac output creates unique challenges, and mechanical circulatory support is needed with as few inotropic drugs as possible.

METHODS

We present a 77-year-old female patient who underwent minimally invasive surgical mitral valve replacement. After an uneventful course, the patient developed acute heart failure eleven days after surgery. Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) revealed a new onset of TTS. The patient needed left ventricular venting and full haemodynamic flow. We successfully implanted a microaxial left ventricular assist device (Impella 5.5) using the transaxillary approach. The haemodynamic situation stabilised immediately. The patient was weaned and the Impella 5.5 was explanted after five days.

CONCLUSION

We present the first-in-man implantation of a transaxillary Impella 5.5 in a patient with TTS. The patient benefitted from Impella 5.5 therapy with full haemodynamic support and venting of the left ventricle.

Electrocoagulation-free strategy in minimally invasive direct coronary artery bypass with hybrid revascularisation - a case report

BACKGROUND

Hybrid coronary revascularisation benefits patients with multivessel disease, as it amalgamates the minimally invasive direct coronary artery bypass (MIDCAB) procedure and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). We present a 63-year-old female with triple-vessel coronary artery disease including marked ostial stenosis of the left main coronary artery, as well as moderate stenosis of the right coronary artery. The risk of death following heart surgery (EuroSCORE II) is 4.27%. The patient exhibited multiple morbidities including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, renal impairment, extracardiac arteriopathy, and multiple prior gastrointestinal surgeries, as well as a recent episode of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. A MIDCAB procedure without electrocoagulation was stipulated by the ENT specialist due to the patient's cochlear implant.

CONCLUSION

A successful MIDCAB procedure omitting electrocoagulation was performed for the first time for multivessel coronary disease in a multimorbid patient as part of a hybrid approach.

Strategies in Diagnosis and Therapy of External Outflow Graft Obstruction in Patients with a Fully Magnetically Levitated Left Ventricular Assist Device: A Meta-Analysis and Systematic Review

Background: The HeartMate 3 (HM3, Abbott) left ventricular assist device (LVAD) is the only commercially available option considered suitable for long-term circulatory support. External compression of the outflow graft causing obstruction (eOGO) is a serious adverse event affecting patients on long-term support. The obstruction occurs due to the accumulation of gelatinous substance between the bend relief and outflow graft. This systematic review evaluated all available studies with regard to the diagnosis and therapy of eOGOs. Methods: A systematic literature review and analysis of individual patient data was performed using MEDLINE/PubMed following PRISMA guidelines. Original works dating up to 31 October 2024 were considered. Results: Twenty-four publications that met the inclusion criteria were identified, providing individual data from 113 patients with a median support time to eOGO diagnosis of 809 days [588, 1095] and follow-up after treatment of 365 days [33, 605]. eOGO severity classification was performed on 108 patients according to our grading system. For treatment, most patients underwent surgery (n = 38) or stenting (n = 29). A hazard ratio of 0.75 [0.28, 2.03] was calculated for the surgical group versus the stenting group (p = 0.570). Conclusions: Concerning 30-day mortality, we did not find a significant difference between the eOGO severity of survivors and non-survivors. We found no significant differences in outcome between patients with differing eOGO severity and treatment strategy, namely stenting and surgery. Due to an increase in eOGO incidence after one year of support, we propose that clinicians monitor their patients for this complication when support time surpasses one year.

Mechanical Circulatory Support Strategies in Takotsubo Syndrome with Cardiogenic Shock: A Systematic Review

BACKGROUND

Takotsubo syndrome is, by definition, a reversible form of acute heart failure. If cardiac output is severely reduced, Takotsubo syndrome can cause cardiogenic shock, and mechanical circulatory support can serve as a bridge to recovery. To date, there are no recommendations on when to use mechanical circulatory support and on which device is particularly effective in this context. Our aim was to determine the best treatment strategy.

METHODS

A systematic literature research and analysis of individual patient data was performed in MEDLINE/PubMed according to PRISMA guidelines. Our research considered original works published until 31 July 2023.

RESULTS

A total of 93 publications that met the inclusion criteria were identified, providing individual data from 124 patients. Of these, 62 (50%) were treated with veno-arterial extracorporeal life support (va-ECLS), and 44 (35.5%) received a microaxial left ventricular assist device (Impella). Eighteen patients received an Impella CP and twenty-one an Impella 2.5. An intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) without other devices was used in only 13 patients (10.5%), while other devices (BiVAD or Tandem Heart) were used in 5 patients (4%). The median initial left ventricular ejection fraction was 20%, with no difference between the four device groups except for the IABP group, which was less affected by cardiac output failure (p = 0.015). The overall survival was 86.3%. Compared to the other groups, the time to cardiac recovery was shorter with Impella (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Though the Impella treatment is new, our analysis may show a significant benefit of Impella compared to other MCS strategies for cardiogenic shock in Takotsubo syndrome.