Last month, Frankston Hospital became the third hospital in Victoria to introduce an Impella program, after acquiring an Impella heart pump thanks to Peninsula Health’s generous donor community, which raised $100,000 through our 2023 tax appeal and regular giving program.
The Impella is the world’s smallest artificial heart pump, which can be inserted percutaneously to support critically ill patients’ hearts in maintaining blood flow during high-risk coronary interventions, rather than requiring open-heart surgery.
Every year, Frankston Hospital admits a significant number of patients with ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction (STEMI), a very serious form of heart attack in which one of the heart’s major arteries is blocked. A substantial proportion of these patients also experience cardiogenic shock—a life-threatening condition where the heart is unable to pump sufficient blood to meet the body’s needs.
“Despite intensive medical intervention, the mortality rate among these patients remains high,” explains Peninsula Health Head of Cardiology, Dr Robert Lew.
“The Impella has been shown to improve survival from heart attacks with cardiogenic shock and dramatically increases a patient’s chance of survival.”
With this support, Frankston Hospital’s cardiology team is now equipped to offer this advanced, lifesaving treatment to patients when they need it most.