Temporary MCS With the iVAC 2L Transaortic Device in High-risk PCI

Although coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) remains the standard treatment for patients with multivessel coronary artery disease, there is growing interest in performing protected percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in high-risk patients. Protected PCI involves the use of temporary mechanical circulatory support (MCS) devices during and shortly after the procedure to maintain hemodynamic stability and reduce the risk of complications such as acute left ventricular failure. This approach offers a safer alternative to open-heart surgery in patients for whom CABG poses significant operative risks. The study rationale is to investigate the safety and clinical efficacy of temporary MCS with the iVAC 2L transaortic device in high-risk percutaneous coronary intervention.

On admission patients will undergo ECG, echocardiography, routine blood tests including complete blood count and basic metabolic panel. After then the patient's risk will be assessed by the institution's heart team (presence of severe coronary artery disease, acute coronary syndrome, other comorbidities including renal disease, diabetes mellitus, chronic and acute heart failure etc.).

For placement of the iVAC 2L transaortic device the patient will be transported to the X-ray operating room. The transaortic system for short-term circulatory support with pulsatile blood flow that consists of three main components: an external membrane pump, a 17Fr diameter catheter for reversed blood flow (intake cannula) and a patented two-way rotary valve. The pump has two chambers, one for blood and one for helium, separated by a flexible diaphragm. The blood chamber connects to the catheter and the air chamber connects to a standard IABP console. The bi-directional valve is located 72 mm from the aspiration tip of the catheter and determines the direction of blood flow. The catheter is advanced retrogradely through the common femoral artery so that the tip is located in the left ventricular (LV) cavity and the valve is in the ascending aorta. Synchronized with the cardiac cycle via ECG, the device draws blood from the LV into the pump chamber during systole and ejects blood from the pump into the ascending aorta during diastole. Advantages of the iVAC 2L include a minimally invasive implantation technique, pulsatile flow that may be more physiologic compared to continuous flow devices, and a lower risk of hemolysis and vascular complications compared to other MCS devices.

After surgery further monitoring of the patient will be carried out in the intensive care unit. During hospitalization treatment and diagnostic evaluation of patients will be done according to current clinical practice guidelines.

The primary composite outcome is all-cause mortality, including acute myocardial infarction, stroke and TIA during hospitalization and at Day 360 of follow-up, expressed as a percentage of total patients.

Inclusion criteria

• Multidisciplinary heart team consensus for high-risk PCI. HR-PCI was defined as any percutaneous intervention for coronary disease involving an unusually high risk of periprocedural circulatory collapse.
• Signed Informed Consent to participate in the study

Exclusion criteria

• Femoral artery diameter < 6.0mm
• Significant biventricular or right heart failure
• Thrombus in the left ventricle
• Presence of a mechanical aortic valve
• Aortic valve stenosis/calcification (equivalent to an orifice area of 0.6 cm2 or less) or moderate-to-severe aortic insufficiency (echocardiographic assessment graded as ≥+2)
• Severe peripheral arterial disease precluding placement of the iVAC2L
• Combined cardiorespiratory failure
• Presence of an atrial or ventricular septal defect (including post infarct VSD)
• Left ventricular rupture
• Cardiac tamponade
• Presence of any other subtype of shock
• Known severe comorbidities independently affecting prognosis (chronic renal or liver failure, active malignancies etc.)
• Recent major bleeding event (< 3 months)
• Recent stroke (< 3 months)