Temporary Circulatory Support Devices

The use of temporary mechanical circulatory support (MCS) devices has expanded over the last decade to include use during high-risk percutaneous coronary intervention or ablation procedures and to support patients in cardiogenic shock. The choice of device to implant depends upon the anticipated duration of support, the need for uni- or biventricular support, the potential for recovery and candidacy for a fully implantable left ventricular assist device and/or cardiac transplantation. Typically, these are devices used from hours to days or weeks, depending upon the clinical scenario. This chapter will provide an overview of temporary MCS devices, including Impella® (Abiomed, Danvers, MA, USA), TandemHeart™ (CardiacAssist, Inc. dba TandemLife, Pittsburgh, PA), and CentriMag™ (Abbott Labs, Lake Bluff, IL, USA), describing advantages as well as adverse events associated with each strategy.