Safety and Performance of the Aortix Device in Acute Decompensated Heart Failure and Cardiorenal Syndrome

Cardiorenal syndrome (CRS) complicates 33% of acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) admissions, and patients with persistent congestion at discharge have high 30-day event rates. The purpose of this study was to evaluate a novel catheter-deployed intra-aortic entrainment pump (IAEP) in patients with ADHF with CRS and persistent congestion. A multicenter (n = 14), nonrandomized, single-arm, safety and feasibility study of IAEP therapy was conducted. Within patient changes (post–pre IAEP therapy) in fluid loss, hemodynamics, patient-reported dyspnea, and serum biomarkers were assessed using Wilcoxon signed-rank testing. Of 21 enrolled patients, 18 received Aortix therapy. Mean ± SD patient age was 60.3 ± 7.9 years. The median left ventricular ejection fraction was 22.5% (25th-75th percentile: 10.0%-53.5%); 27.8% had a left ventricular ejection fraction ≥50%. Pre-therapy, patients received 8.7 ± 4.1 days of loop diuretic agents and 44% were on inotropes. Pump therapy averaged 4.6 ± 1.6 days, yielding net fluid losses of 10.7 ± 6.5 L (P < 0.001) and significant (P < 0.01) reductions in central venous pressure (change from baseline: −8.5 mm Hg [25th-75th percentile: −3.5 to −10.0 mm Hg]), pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (−11.0 mm Hg [25th-75th percentile: −5.0 to −14.0 mm Hg]), and serum creatinine (−0.2 mg/dL [25th-75th percentile: −0.1 to −0.5 mg/dL]) with improved estimated glomerular filtration rate (+5.0 mL/min/1.73 m2 [25th-75th percentile: 2.0-9.0 mL/min/1.73 m2]) and patient-reported dyspnea score (+16 [25th-75th percentile: 3-37]). Dyspnea scores, natriuretic peptides, and renal function improvements persisted through 30 days. This pilot study of patients with ADHF, persistent congestion, and worsening renal function due to CRS supports the potential for safely achieving decongestion using IAEP therapy. These initial promising results provide the basis for future randomized clinical trials of this novel pump. (An Evaluation of the Safety and Performance of the Aortix System for Intra-Aortic Mechanical Circulatory Support in Patients with Cardiorenal Syndrome [The Aortix CRS Pilot Study]; NCT04145635)