HTA Details
Percutaneous Ventricular Assist Devices
- Publication date
-
2017-February-07
- Status
- Final
- Topic Area
- Cardiac Cardiovascular
- Recommendation
-
Ontario Health Technology Advisory Committee Recommendations:
- The Ontario Health Technology Advisory Committee recommends that Impella percutaneous ventricular assist devices not be publicly funded for use in high-risk percutaneous coronary intervention
- The Ontario Health Technology Advisory Committee recommends that Impella percutaneous ventricular assist devices not be publicly funded for use in cardiogenic shock
- Ministry Response
-
The Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care endorses this recommendation.
-
To read the full OHTAC Recommendation Report for this topic, contact our Health Innovation team using the contact form to request a digital copy.
Percutaneous ventricular support can help to maintain blood flow and blood pressure during high-risk heart procedures and/or when the heart suddenly cannot pump enough blood and goes into cardiogenic shock.
In fiscal year 2015/16, an estimated 355 patients in Ontario received percutaneous ventricular support for high-risk percutaneous coronary intervention or for management of cardiogenic shock.
This review compared the Impella devices against intra-aortic balloon pumps and/or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in high-risk percutaneous coronary intervention and cardiogenic shock.
The Impella device is a percutaneous ventricular assist device that has a small pump at one end of a thin, flexible tube. It is implanted into the heart through an artery in the leg and pumps blood from the left ventricle through the heart valve into a blood vessel called the ascending aorta.
Supporting Documents
Last Updated: February 24, 2026
