Impella devices are typically implanted in the hemodynamics laboratory or the operating room, where sterile gauzes made of interwoven fibers are commonly used.
These sterile gauzes are absorbent pads made of cotton or synthetic materials.
Typically, the gauzes used in the cath lab or operating room are X-ray detectable, as they contain a radiopaque thread or strip to make them visible on X-rays, helping prevent retention of gauze inside the patient.
Often, surgical gauzes are designed to be lint-free to avoid leaving these fibers in the surgical site.
But there is always the possibility that a fiber may come loose and end up in the surgical field or in the sterile saline containers.
Abiomed identified that in the analysis of some cases of low flow or pump thrombosis the clot may form around a matrix of white or blue fibers.
More information in this video:
Fig: Sterile Gauze
Fig: Sterile saline basin.
Fig: Prevent Impella contact with fibers.
Fig: Avoid rinsing Impella in the sterile saline basin.
Fig: Keep Impella i the packaging until the insertion.
Tags: impella, fibers, interaction, sterile, gauze, cath lab, operating room, OR, Cotton, synthetic, X-ray, detectable, opaque, loose, low flow, pump stop, hemolysis, matrix, white fiber, blue fiber, clot, ingestion, recommendations, packaging, rinse, basin, fluid, bath, saline, floating, IFU, instructions, safety, alert.
