Right heart failure (RHF) is a life-threatening condition. Mechanical right heart support offers an option for critically ill patients. The PERKAT® RV device is designed for percutaneous implantation in acute RHF. It consists of a nitinol chamber covered by foils containing inflow valves. An outlet tube is attached to its distal tip. Using an 18F sheath, it is implanted in the inferior vena cava while the tube bypasses the right heart with its tip in the pulmonary trunk. Then, an IABP balloon is inserted in the pump chamber. Balloon deflation generates blood inflow into the chamber; during inflation, blood is pumped into the pulmonary arteries. The device is capable of achieving flow rates of up to 3.5 l/min under in vitro conditions. In vivo, we were able to increase cardiac output by 59% in a sheep model of acute pulmonary embolism. Based on this, our further research will focus on first-in-human implants.
Keywords: Acute right heart failure; Acute right ventricular failure; IABP; Left ventricular assist device; Percutaneous; Pulsatile; Right ventricular assist device.