Impella No Better Than IABP in Cardiogenic Shock

–Underpowered IMPRESS trial shows no mortality benefit A rare randomized trial and a new meta-analysis both failed to find any evidence that Impella mechanical circulatory support devices are any better than intra-aortic balloon pumps (IABPs) for patients with cardiogenic shock. For many years, the intra-aortic balloon pump has been the standard device to increase circulation…

Click here to continue reading…

FDA Grants Premarket Approval To AbioMed Heart Pump

The FDA said today that it had approved Abiomed’s Impella 2.5 System. According to the company it is is the first hemodynamic support device to gain FDA premarket approval for use during high risk PCI procedures. The miniature blood pump is designed for temporary use in patients with severe symptomatic coronary artery disease and diminished (but stable) heart…

Click here to continue reading…

FDA Approves New Heart Pump From Abiomed

Abiomed has announced that it received FDA approval for its Impella RP System, the first percutaneous single access heart pump that provides support to the right side of the heart. The approval, under a Humanitarian Device Exemption (HDE), is based on results of the single arm Recover Right study, in which 30 patients were enrolled. The overall survival…

Click here to continue reading…

News Flash! Company Issues Incredibly Boring Press Release

Last week Abiomed issued a press release (reprinted below) that was about as dull as a press release can get. The main news of the press release was that the PROTECT II study testing the company’s Impella 2.5  circulatory support device had been published online in Circulation. The press release provides no details or information about…

Click here to continue reading…