Interventional Ventricular Assist System for PCI in CHIP Patients

In patients with complex coronary artery disease (CAD), determining the optimal revascularization strategy (percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) or coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) remains a challenge. These high-risk patients pose an extreme surgical risk. However, with the development of new interventional techniques and materials, PCI is a good alternative to CABG and is referred to as complex high-risk indicated PCI (CHIP).

During CHIP, hemodynamics can deteriorate because of temporary complete coronary occlusion or profound myocardial ischemia. This could result in loss of cardiac output and hemodynamics collapse. Mechanical support during CHIP facilitates native cardiac function by achieving a stable hemodynamic state to withstand repetitive derangements such as ischemia caused by prolonged and repeated balloon inflations, and resume original cardiac function immediately postprocedure or shortly thereafter.

There are several mechanical circulatory support (MCS) systems available, i.e., intra-aortic balloon counterpulsation (IABP), Impella, TandemHeart, and veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO). These MCS have been widely studied in patients with acute myocardial infarction (MI) complicated by cardiogenic shock and showed conflicting results. However, studies regarding the use of MCS in the setting of CHIP are much less abundant and no randomized study has compared Impella with VA-ECMO in CHIP patients.

The aim of the study is to evaluate the effectiveness of interventional ventricular assist system (CorVad) compared to the venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) system in providing circulatory support for complicated and high-risk patient with indications for PCI.