Venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) has been used for refractory cardiogenic shock; however, it is associated with increased left ventricular afterload. Outcomes associated with the combination of a percutaneous left ventricular assist device (Impella) and VA-ECMO remains largely unknown. We retrospectively reviewed patients treated for refractory cardiogenic shock with VA-ECMO (2014-2016). The primary outcome was all-cause mortality within 30 days of VA-ECMO implantation. Secondary outcomes included duration of support, stroke, major bleeding, hemolysis, inotropic score, and cardiac recovery. Outcomes were compared between the VA-ECMO cohort and VA-ECMO + Impella (ECPELLA cohort). Sixty-six patients were identified: 30 ECPELLA and 36 VA-ECMO. Fifty-eight percentage of VA-ECMO patients (n = 21) had surgical venting, as compared with 100% of the ECPELLA cohort (n = 30) which had Impella (±surgical vent). Both cohorts demonstrated relatively similar baseline characteristics except for higher incidence of ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in the ECPELLA cohort. Thirty-day all-cause mortality was significantly lower in the ECPELLA cohort (57% vs. 78%; hazard ratio [HR] 0.51 [0.28-0.94], log rank p = 0.02), and this difference remained intact after correcting for STEMI and PCI. No difference between secondary outcomes was observed, except for the inotrope score which was greater in VA-ECMO group by day 2 (11 vs. 0; p = 0.001). In the largest US-based retrospective study, the addition of Impella to VA-ECMO for patients with refractory cardiogenic shock was associated with lower all-cause 30 day mortality, lower inotrope use, and comparable safety profiles as compared with VA-ECMO alone.

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