New heart pump trial offers hope for severe heart failure patients

Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.

Inclusion Criteria: 1. Age ≥18 years 2. Subject has signed the Informed Consent 3. Subject has pre-existing heart failure, with NYHA Class IV prior to the index admission 4. Subject is presenting with acute heart failure and meets one of the following criteria: 1. Sustained episode of systolic blood pressure ≤90 mmHg for at least 30 minutes or need for vasoactive agents to maintain such blood pressure 2. Or a cardiac index (CI) \<2.2 L/min/m2 determined to be secondary to cardiac dysfunction, in the absence of hypovolemia 3. Or required support with an intra-aortic balloon pump Exclusion Criteria: 1. Structural aortic valve regurgitation or stenosis of any grade greater than mild, with evidence of aortic sclerosis on pre-procedure echocardiography 2. New diagnosis of heart failure ≤90 days prior to enrollment 3. Previous aortic valve replacement or reconstruction 4. Prealbumin \<150 mg/L (15 mg/dL) or Albumin \<30 g/L (3 g/dL) 5. Thrombus in the left atrium or ventricle 6. STEMI ≤30 days prior to enrollment 7. Severe Cardiogenic Shock during index hospitalization - requiring multiple pressors, currently on mechanical circulatory support (not including IABP) or mechanical ventilation or experiencing PEA or refractory VT/VF 8. Unwitnessed cardiac arrest OR ≥30 minutes of CPR prior to enrollment OR any cardiac arrest with impairment in mental status, cognition or any global or functional neurological deficit. 9. Subjects with known aortic diseases 10. Any contraindication that precludes placing an Impella® including tortuous vascular anatomy, axillary artery diameter \<7 mm 11. Infection of the proposed procedural access site or suspected systemic active infection 12. Known contraindication to heparin (i.e., heparin induced thrombocytopenia (HIT)), pork, pork products, contrast media or study required medication(s) 13. Intolerance to anticoagulant or antiplatelet therapies 14. History of bleeding diathesis or known coagulopathy, any recent GU or GI bleed or will refuse blood transfusions 15. Known hemoglobin diseases, such as sickle cell anemia or thalassemia 16. Subject is currently on dialysis 17. History of heart transplant 18. Prior cardiac surgery ≤90 days prior to enrollment 19. RV dysfunction requiring mechanical or inotropic support pre-device implant 20. History of stroke or intracranial hemorrhage ≤90 days prior to enrollment, or a history of cerebrovascular disease with significant (\> 80%) uncorrected carotid stenosis, or any permanent neurological deficit 21. Restrictive or obstructive cardiomyopathy, constrictive pericarditis, restrictive pericarditis, pericardial tamponade 22. Pre-existing liver dysfunction defined as: Child-Pugh Class B or C 23. Pre-existing pulmonary disease requiring home oxygen 24. Suspected or known pregnancy 25. Subject has previously been symptomatic with or hospitalized for COVID-19 unless he/she has been discharged (if hospitalized) and asymptomatic for ≥8 weeks and has returned to his/her prior baseline (pre-COVID) clinical condition 26. Subject has other medical, social or psychological problems that, in the opinion of the Investigator, compromises the subject's ability to give written informed consent and/or to comply with study procedures 27. Participation in the active treatment or follow-up phase of another clinical study of an investigational drug or device which has not reached its primary endpoint 28. Subject belongs to a vulnerable population \[Vulnerable subject populations are defined as individuals with mental disability, persons in nursing homes, children, impoverished persons, homeless persons, nomads, refugees and those permanently incapable of giving informed consent.\]