By Dr. Dhananjay Kumar
Interventional Cardiologist | Manipal Hospital, Ranchi
The IMPELLA device has reshaped the management of high-risk percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) and cardiogenic shock. Major international guidelines in 2025 have reaffirmed its expanding role in contemporary cardiac care. This article highlights the latest evidence and real-world experiences that continue to shape IMPELLA’s place in interventional cardiology.
A New Standard for High-Risk PCI
Interventional cardiologists frequently treat patients with severe left ventricular dysfunction, critical left main disease, or complex triple-vessel coronary artery disease, where maintaining hemodynamic stability is crucial.
IMPELLA, a micro-axial percutaneous heart pump, provides forward blood flow and unloads the left ventricle, enabling safer and more complete revascularization in these high-risk patients.
Clinical trials and real-world registries have demonstrated significantly lower peri-procedural complications and improved survival when IMPELLA is used proactively in high-risk PCI. One-year outcomes further show better recovery of cardiac function and an overall improvement in quality of life.
Adoption, Training, and Real-World Implementation
Many cardiac centers now routinely use IMPELLA for high-risk PCI and cardiogenic shock, especially in patients presenting with hypotension, ongoing ischemia, or hemodynamic instability. Real-world case experiences strongly reinforce the value of early IMPELLA support.
One such case involved a 70-year-old woman who presented in cardiogenic shock with acute myocardial infarction and critical triple-vessel disease. Despite initial culprit LAD angioplasty, her blood pressure remained persistently low. With IMPELLA-CP support, she underwent complete revascularization of the left main, LAD, LCX, and RCA. The device was removed after 16 hours, following which she made a full recovery and became asymptomatic with improved cardiac function.
To date, multiple lives have been saved using IMPELLA-CP under the care of Dr. Dhananjay Kumar at Manipal Hospital, Ranchi — a landmark achievement for Eastern India.
Clinical Impact and Future Perspective
Such cases validate the growing body of evidence that timely IMPELLA support stabilizes circulation, protects the myocardium, and significantly improves clinical outcomes.
While discussions continue regarding cost and patient selection, IMPELLA has clearly transformed care for the sickest cardiac patients, offering safety, stability, and renewed hope in the most critical situations.
