LAUSR

BACKGROUND Worsening heart failure complicated by congestion, hypotension, and renal dysfunction is difficult to manage, increasingly common and predicts a poor outcome. Novel therapies are required to facilitate diuresis and implementation of disease-modifying interventions in preparation for hospital discharge. Accordingly, we investigated the haemodynamic and renal effects of the Reitan Catheter Pump (RCP) percutaneous support device in patients admitted with decompensated heart failure (DHF). METHODS This was a prospective observational study of 20 patients admitted with DHF, ejection fraction < 30%, and Cardiac index (CI) < 2.1 L/min/m2 in need of inotropic/mechanical support. RESULTS Patients underwent RCP support for a mean of 18.3 (±6.3) hours. The RCP increased CI from 1.84 L/min/m2 (±0.27), to 2.41 L/min/m2 (±0.45, p = 0.04), increased urine output (71 mL/h (±65) to 227 ml/h (±179) (p = 0.006) with a concomitant reduction in serum creatinine (188 μmol/L (±87) to 161 μmol/L (±78) (p = 0.0007). There were no clinically significant haemolysis, vascular injury, or thrombo-embolic complications. CONCLUSIONS For patients admitted with DHF, the RCP improves cardiac index, diuresis and renal function without causing important complications.