Subacute Aortic Rupture Due to Mechanical Chest Compression with Indwelling Impella

Abstract

Mechanical cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) devices like Lund University Cardiopulmonary Assist System (LUCAS) cause more skeletal and visceral injuries than standard CPR. A 62-year-old woman with ST-elevation myocardial infarction was resuscitated with LUCAS and Impella CP for refractory cardiogenic shock during percutaneous coronary intervention. She suffered delayed ascending aortic rupture necessitating supracommissural ascending aortic replacement plus triple bypass grafting. Prolonged mechanical CPR with concomitant Impella may lead to aortic rupture. The combined use of LUCAS and Impella may have disastrous consequences.

Keywords

• cardiac catheterization/intervention
• circulatory assist devices
• shock (systemic, cardiac or circulatory)