Contemporary Evidence in Protected Percutaneous Coronary Intervention: A Case-Based Review

Abstract High-risk percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients with markedly reduced left-ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) carries substantial risk of haemodynamic collapse, creating an unmet need for strategies that allow complete, optimized revascularization without compromising safety. These cases often fall within the Class IIb–III indications of the 2024 European Society of Cardiology (ESC) Chronic Coronary Syndromes and Revascularization Guidelines, which support PCI in patients with severe left ventricular (LV) dysfunction, complex or multivessel disease, and surgical ineligibility or refusal after Heart Team evaluation. For such individuals, protected PCI using percutaneous mechanical circulatory support (MCS), namely micro axial flow pumps (mAFP), may enable procedural completeness and improve outcomes. Herin, we present a case of a 66-year-old male that illustrates the expanding role of protected PCI in patients who met Class IIb–III ESC Guidelines criteria, with severe LV dysfunction, multivessel or left-main disease, and surgical refusal or ineligibility. Contemporary evidence supports the use of mAFP-assisted PCI to maintain forward flow and ventricular unloading during complex revascularization, thereby minimizing ischemic and haemodynamic instability. Such an approach allows the operator to pursue meticulous lesion preparation, imaging-guided optimization, and bifurcation PCI techniques while preserving perfusion and procedural safety. In appropriately selected cases, Impella-supported high-risk PCI represents a safe and effective option. It enables complete, optimized revascularization and can promote early functional recovery, bridging a crucial therapeutic gap in contemporary revascularization practice.