2024 Q3 Critical Care Transport Update Webinar

In this Q3 critical care transport update webinar, Jena Billig, BSN, RN, CCRN, CFRCN, Abiomed’s West coast critical care transport trainer, provides an overview of the Automated Impella Controller (AIC) and focusses on waveforms and alarms displayed on the AIC.

After a video vignette featuring a patient successfully supported with Impella®, Jena provides an overview of the function and features of the AIC, which is the interface for monitoring and controlling the Impella heart pumps and purge system. She describes the 60-minute battery life of the 26.8 pound AIC and explains that the Placement screen should remain visible during transport to display appropriate waveforms. She reviews the soft keys on the AIC and the types of information displayed on the AIC as well as Impella Connect and Flight Mode.

Jena provides a walkthrough of the Placement screen for left-sided devices (Impella CP®, Impella 5.5®), explaining the aortic and ventricular placement waveforms and motor current waveform. She discusses how to find and note information from the screen and discusses Impella flow and P-level, including AUTO mode.

Next, Jena discusses alarm troubleshooting. She explains the three levels of alarms and provides examples of each and how to handle them. Red critical alarms, such as Impella Position in Ventricle, require immediate action. Yellow serious alarms, such as Suction, require slowing down, assessing the patient and taking action if needed. White advisory alarms, such as AC Power Disconnected, are notifications about what is happening.

Jena also discusses specific waveform and alarm information for right-sided devices (Impella RP® and Impella RP Flex®. She concludes the session with a big-picture best practices review—highlighting the PAPP mnemonic (preload, afterload, position and purge), CPR/defibrillation considerations, suction and malposition—and a brief Q&A.