Management of cardiopulmonary assist devices in critically ill patients using point-of-care transthoracic echocardiography: a case series

Abstract

Point-of-care transthoracic echocardiography is increasingly being utilized by the intensive care physicians in the management of hemodynamically unstable patients. However, its use in the management of critically ill patients requiring cardiopulmonary mechanical device support remains to be well described. In this case series, we present two case reports where point-of-care echocardiography was successfully used by the intensive care team in diagnosing and managing problems related to cardiopulmonary assist device malposition.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (10.1186/s13089-017-0080-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Point‐of‐care echocardiography – A road to future or a step backwards

“…POC echocardiography can be used to assess the exact placement of the Impella CP ® into the left ventricle and gain optimal function. If the outflow area of the Impella CP ® is placed below the aortic valve, it can lead to haemolysis and device failure due to its inability to vent the left ventricle . It can also be to assess correct positioning of inflow and outflow cannula in veno‐venous extracorporeal membranous oxygenation (ECMO) .…”