Use of the Impella Left Ventricular Assist Device as a Bridge to Recovery in a Patient with Cardiogenic Shock Related to Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy

The Impella Recover LP 2.5® (Abiomed Inc, Danvers, Massachusetts, USA) is an effective and minimally invasive left ventricular assist device and a useful tool in the treatment of patients undergoing high risk percutaneous coronary interventions and critically ill patients with poor left ventricular function. We present the use of the revised Impella Recover LP 2.5® left ventricular assist device, in a patient with acute heart failure and cardiogenic shock secondary to severe Takotsubo cardiomyopathy. The revised Impella Recover LP 2.5® left ventricular assist device is able to provide cardiac output of up to 2.5 l/min. The patient was weaned off the Impella device in 48 hours and was discharged on day 6 of admission without sequelae.