When your heart isn't pumping blood as it should, you need treatment from a team with expertise. At The Heart Group of Lancaster General Health, our specialists use the latest mechanical circulatory support (MCS) technology to support your heart while we work to improve its function.
That includes Impella®—the world's smallest heart pump. Impella temporarily takes over pumping action, so your heart can rest and recover. By increasing blood flow, Impella protects your heart and other organs while you receive or await treatment.
What Is the Impella Heart Pump?
The Impella heart pump is a ventricular assist device (VAD) that maintains your heart’s blood flow for a short period of time while you're in the hospital. You may receive Impella to improve blood flow during cardiogenic shock or high-risk PCI procedure.
About the size of a pen, it features a small pump, a catheter (thin, flexible tube) and an electric motor. One end of the catheter is connected to a computer outside your body that powers and controls the pump system. The same computer sends information to your healthcare team about how well your heart is working, and how much blood it is pumping.
Why Might I Need Impella?
Impella is used to prevent heart failure if the left side of the heart has been severely damaged or grown very weak. You may receive Impella if you:
- Have left-sided heart failure
- Are having a percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI, angioplasty) or stent placement
- Are waiting for a heart transplant or longer-term ventricular assist device (VAD).
- Cannot have open-heart surgery due to risk factors
- Experience cardiogenic shock, a life-threatening condition that occurs when your heart is not able to pump enough blood
Impella: The Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health Advantage
Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health is the only medical center in Lancaster County with a dedicated Interventional Cardiology Clinic. We offer the most advanced catheter-based procedures and devices for problems that affect your heart and blood vessels.
Interventional cardiology specialists from The Heart Group are national leaders in the field. We perform a high volume of catheter-based cardiovascular procedures, with excellent outcomes.
We offer:
- Dedicated Interventional Cardiology Clinic: At the region’s only Interventional Cardiology Clinic, you see all the heart specialists you need in one convenient place. Your care team also includes specialists from Lancaster General Health Physicians Cardiothoracic Surgery and a cardiologist with advanced training in cardiac imaging.
- Coordinated, advanced care: Our board-certified interventional cardiologists carefully plan your treatment and safely implant your Impella. When needed, specialists can perform catheter-based and open-chest procedures together in one of the region’s only state-of-the-art hybrid operating rooms.
- Experienced leadership: Our team is sought out for their leadership and expertise. You’re in the experienced, compassionate hands of board-certified interventional cardiologists who are also fellowship trained. Board-certified heart failure specialists also assist in your care and management following device implantation.
- Exceptional outcomes: We have among the lowest hospital readmission rates for heart failure in the nation, with some of the longest-surviving heart failure patients. Our LVAD program is Joint Commission-certified, which means we're committed to continuous performance improvement and high-quality patient care.
- Comprehensive support: We understand that severe heart disease brings about changes in your life. Our multidisciplinary team coordinates support services before and after you receive mechanical circulatory support and treatment, so you get the attention and care you deserve.
What to Expect During the Impella Implantation Procedure
Impella is usually implanted in a catheterization lab or operating room, using minimally invasive techniques. You receive anesthesia to keep you comfortable during the procedure.
Your doctor typically:
- Inserts a thin, flexible tube (catheter) with the Impella at the end into a small incision in your leg or chest
- Threads the catheter through your blood vessels to your heart
- Uses a series of X-rays to properly place the Impella heart pump in your left ventricle
- Connects the catheter to an external console, and turns the pump on
In rare cases, Impella may be placed in your heart through your aorta (the main blood vessel leading out of your heart) during open-heart surgery.
You may have the Impella in your heart for a few hours to several days. When it’s time to remove the device, your doctor gradually lowers the pumping speed until your heart takes over.
Contact Us
To learn more about our interventional cardiology services, call 717-544-8300.