Epicardial Echocardiography for Correct Placement of the Intracardial Biventricular Assist Device (Impella®)[*]

Abstract

Background: Correct placement of the intracardial biventricular assist device (Impella®) as a supporting system for off-pump coronary surgery is routinely checked by transesophageal echocardiography and invasive pressure measurements. However, it remains difficult to verify the accurate position of the right heart system when the posterior wall is exposed. Methods: In 23 patients undergoing augmented beating heart CABG surgery, the correct placement of the lmpella®-system was controlled by TEE as well as by a new 15-6 L epicardial echotransducer (EE) (Agilent, Andover, MA). Results: TEE assisted well in inserting the system in all patients. The correct placement of the distal end of the right heart system 1.5 cm behind the pulmonary valve was verified in 18/23 cases by TEE vs. 23/23 cases by EE. Dislocation of the devices during tilting of the heart could only be verified by EE. Conclusions: Epicardial echocardiography is a useful, innovative method for monitoring the correct placement of the new intracardial biventricular assist device during beating-heart surgery.

Key words

Epicardial echocardiography - Intracardiac assist device - Beating-heart surgery

1 Presented at the 30th Annual meeting of the German Society for Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery in Leipzig, February 18 - 21, 2001

References

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1 Presented at the 30th Annual meeting of the German Society for Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery in Leipzig, February 18 - 21, 2001