Study limitations
This study was limited by its small sample size (Impella® group n = 7).
Patients with Impella® might have been clinically and hemodynamically
more stable, also underlined by significantly longer survival and lower
mortality. Hence, clinical parameters like the need for blood
transfusions and ECMO weaning are challenging to interpret in the
ECMO+Impella® group. Also, hemodynamic parameters from bedside
echocardiography are not captured in this analysis, and thus we cannot
analyze differences in LV-distension parameters objectively between
groups.