Modification of a transvalvular microaxial flow pump for instantaneous determination of native cardiac output and volume.

BACKGROUND: The current Impella CP pump used for mechanical circulatory support (MCS) in patients with cardiogenic shock (CS) cannot assess native cardiac output (CO) and left ventricular (LV) volumes. This data is valuable in facilitating device management and weaning. Admittance technology allows for accurate assessment of cardiac chamber volumes.

OBJECTIVES: This study tested the ability to engineer admittance electrodes onto an existing Impella CP pump to assess total and native CO in an instantaneous manner, as well as LV chamber volumes.

METHODS: Impella CP pumps were fitted with four admittance electrodes and placed in the LV of adult swine (n=9) subjected to three different hemodynamic conditions including Impella CP speed adjustments, administration of escalating doses of dobutamine, and microsphere injections into the left main artery to result in cardiac injury. CO by admittance electrodes was calculated from LV volumes and heart rate. In addition, CO was calculated in each instance via thermodilution, continuous CO (CCO) measurement, Fick's principle and aortic velocity-time integral (VTI) by echocardiography.

RESULTS: Modified Impella CP pumps were placed in swine LV successfully. CO as determined by admittance electrodes was similar by trend with other methods of CO assessment, corrected for pump speed to calculate native CO, and calculated LV chamber volumes trended as expected in each experimental protocol.

CONCLUSIONS: We report for the first time that an Impella CP pump can be fitted with admittance electrodes and used to determine total and native CO in various hemodynamic situations.

CONDENSED ABSTRACT: Transvalvular mechanical circulatory support (MCS) devices such as the Impella CP do not have the ability to provide real-time information on native cardiac output (CO) and left ventricular (LV) volumes. This information is critical in device management and weaning in patients with cardiogenic shock (CS). We demonstrate for the first time, an Impella CP pump coupled with admittance electrodes are able to determine native CO, and left ventricle (LV) chamber volumes in multiple different hemodynamic situations such as Impella pump speed adjustments, escalating dobutamine administration, and cardiac injury from microsphere injection.