Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41899330›Full record

ReviewJournal of clinical medicine2026

Echocardiographic Assessment Before, During, and After Impella Positioning: State of the Art.

Marta Bandini, Alberto Piermartiri, Gioel Gabrio Secco, Edoardo Elia, Rachele Contri, Alina Gallo, Andrea Audo, Giulia Maj

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Journal of clinical medicine, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Marta BandiniCardiothoracic Intensive Care, Royal Papworth Hospital, Cambridge CB2 0AY, UK.ORCID 0009-0004-8845-0379
Alberto PiermartiriDepartment of Cardiology, University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy.
Gioel Gabrio SeccoDepartment of Cardiology, SS. Antonio e Biagio e Cesare Arrigo University Hospital, 15121 Alessandria, Italy.
Edoardo EliaDepartment of Cardiology, SS. Antonio e Biagio e Cesare Arrigo University Hospital, 15121 Alessandria, Italy.
Rachele ContriDepartment of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Anesthesia and Intensive Care, SS. Antonio e Biagio e Cesare Arrigo University Hospital, 15121 Alessandria, Italy.
Alina GalloDivision of Cardiac Surgery, SS. Antonio e Biagio e Cesare Arrigo University Hospital, 15121 Alessandria, Italy.
Andrea AudoDivision of Cardiac Surgery, SS. Antonio e Biagio e Cesare Arrigo University Hospital, 15121 Alessandria, Italy.
Giulia MajDepartment of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Anesthesia and Intensive Care, SS. Antonio e Biagio e Cesare Arrigo University Hospital, 15121 Alessandria, Italy.ORCID 0000-0002-1928-0693

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Echocardiographic assessment is essential for evaluating patients with cardiogenic shock (CS) and determining their potential need for mechanical circulatory support (MCS) implantation. The use of Impella devices has increased significantly in recent years, paralleling the growing recognition of their hemodynamic benefits in selected patient populations. As the clinical experience with these devices has expanded, the need for a more standardized imaging approach has emerged. Both transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) and transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) play complementary roles in guiding the pre-implantation evaluation, placement procedure, and post-implantation management of Impella devices. Currently, no comprehensive guidelines exist concerning the echocardiographic evaluation of Impella devices throughout their entire clinical course, from initial patient selection and device implantation to ongoing monitoring and eventual weaning. This gap in standardized guidance has led to significant variability in clinical practice across different institutions and healthcare systems. This comprehensive review examines the role of transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) and transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) in managing patients on Impella support across five distinct phases: candidate identification and pre-implantation assessment, intraoperative procedural guidance and device positioning, postoperative monitoring and haemodynamic optimisation, complication detection and troubleshooting, and weaning strategies with post-explantation surveillance. Both left-sided devices (Impella CP, CP Smart Assist, and Impella 5.5) and right-sided support (Impella RP) are covered, including combined configurations with VA-ECMO (ECPella). For each phase, we detail the recommended echocardiographic views, essential measurements and their evidence-based thresholds, signs of device malposition, and practical corrective strategies. A level-of-evidence approach is adopted throughout, specifying whether proposed thresholds derive from randomised trials, observational studies, expert consensus, or manufacturer recommendations. Summary tables and a bedside workflow are provided to facilitate immediate clinical application.

Indexed as

cardiogenic shockechocardiographyhemodynamic monitoringImpellamechanical circulatory supportpercutaneous left ventricular assist deviceprocedural echocardiography guidancetransesophageal echocardiographyweaning

Identifiers

PMID41899330
PMCPMC13026651

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.