Five BayCare Hospitals Using Impella Heart Pump To Help Save Lives

“In patients with a heart attack, time is critical when someone’s heart is failing,” said Saihari Sadanandan, MD, interventional cardiologist, St. Joseph’s Hospital. “With the minimally invasive Impella heart pump, we can quickly stabilize patients to be able to address the issues causing the heart to fail.”

The miniature heart pump is used primarily for patients experiencing heart failure, cardiogenic shock (CS), or high-risk patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), also known as angioplasty.  The Impella heart pump helps pump blood from the left ventricle to the aorta so it can supply the body with key nutrients and oxygen. 

Unlike many heart pumps, the minimally invasive Impella does not require the chest to be opened. Impella, which is smaller than the width of a pencil, is inserted through a leg artery and moved up to the aorta until it reaches the heart. A temporary heart pump, Impella must be removed before the patient leaves the hospital.

“The Impella heart pump supports the heart’s effort to pump enough blood to the body,” said Bernando Stein, MD, interventional cardiologist, Morton Plant Hospital. “Use of Impella allows the heart muscle time to rest and potentially recover its normal function. Once the heart is functioning, Impella is removed.”

In February, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) gave expanded Pre-Market Approval for Impella heart pumps to provide treatment for heart failure due to cardiomyopathy leading to cardiogenic shock. Cardiomyopathy is a disease of the heart that can cause the heart to be unable to pump enough blood to support the body’s vital organs. Using Impella can stabilize the patient’s blood flow by allowing the heart muscle to rest and recover.

“Technological advances in healthcare allow us to treat patients who might have had no treatment options a decade ago,” said Octavio Cosme, MD, interventional cardiologist, Winter Haven Hospital. “The small, minimally invasive Impella is one of those advances that can save lives.”

From the youngest patients to adults, our commitment to exceptional patient care can be seen in the quality of our heart services. For decades, our heart experts have brought some of the most advanced and innovative procedures and treatments to the communities we serve. With programs and services nationally recognized, our doctors participate in clinical trials to help find new solutions for patients; teach new techniques to doctors from all over the country and have developed teams of doctorsand clinical staff from different specialties to bring collaborative models of care to our patients. Areas of expertise include cardiothoracic surgery, cardiovascular procedures, electrophysiology, interventional cardiology, medical cardiology, diagnostics, imaging and cardiac rehabilitation, as well as screenings, education and support. 

BayCare is a leading not-for-profit health care system that connects individuals and families to a wide range of services at 15 hospitals and hundreds of other convenient locations throughout the Tampa Bay and central Florida regions. Inpatient and outpatient services include acute care, primary care, imaging, laboratory, behavioral health, home care, and wellness. Our mission is to improve the health of all we serve through community-owned, health care services that set the standard for high-quality, compassionate care. For more information, visit BayCare on the Web at www.BayCare.org.