If you or a loved one had an Impella blood pump device implanted and subsequently experienced serious injuries or life-threatening conditions may qualify for financial compensation through a lawsuit settlement.
The Impella Heart Pump was used in connection with the care and treatment for heart attacks and blocked artery repairs among other things. It essentially helps the heart do its work – pumping blood through the body – in times when it is less able to do it on its own because of injury or the recovery from treatment for an underlying cardiac condition (e.g., blocked arteries). Conditions that might be associated with the use of the pump include, cardiogenic shock, open-heart surgery, cardiomyopathy and coronary angioplasty or percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI’s).
The device is subject to a Class I recall by the FDA, indicating that it has been associated with serious injuries and death. The device was approved for use in the US in 2008. It is manufactured by Abiomed which was acquired by Johnson & Johnson in 2022.
The problem with the device occurs during the insertion of the catheter for the pump. Its design and instructions to the surgeon have resulted in instances where the catheter (tube) puts a hole through the heart rather than properly placing the pump. When a cardiac perforation occurs, there are a range of negative outcomes from death to an increased risk of long-term heart failure. There have been 49 reported deaths associated with this product to date.
