Table 2: Comparison of Devices.

	IABP	iVAC	Impella 2.5	Impella 5	Impella RP	VA ECMO	TandemHeart
Bedside implantation	Yes	No	No	No	No	Yes	No
Pump mechanism	Pneumatic	Pneumatic	Axial	Axial	Axial	Centrifugal	Centrifugal
Cannula size	7–8 Fr	17 Fr	Catheter: 9 Fr Pump motor: 12 Fr	Catheter: 9 Fr Pump motor: 21 Fr	Catheter: 11 Fr Pump motor: 22 Fr	18–21 Fr inflow 15–22 Fr outflow	21 Fr inflow 15 Fr outflow
Flow (l/min)	0.5–1.0	2	2.5	5	>4	> 4.5	5
Insertion technique	Percutaneous	Percutaneous	Percutaneous	Surgical	Percutaneous	Percutaneous Surgical	Percutaneous
Implantation time	+	+	++	+++	++	+++	+++
Gas exchanger	-	-	-	-	-	++++	-
Metabolic support	-	-	-	-	-	++++	-
Left ventricular support	+	+	++	+++	-	-	++++
Right ventricular support	-	-	-	-	+++	++++	-
Biventricular support	-	-	-	-	+	-	-
Circulatory support	+	+	++	+++	-	++++	++
Anticoagulation	+	+	++	++	++	+++	+++
Haemolysis	+	+	++	+++	++	++	++
Post-implantation management difficulty	+	+	++	++	++	+++	++++
Level of evidence (European guidelines)	IIIb	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A

IABP = intra-aortic balloon pump; N/A = not available; VA ECMO = venous-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation; +,++,+++,++++ = relative qualitative grading concerning: time (implantation time); intensity (anticoagulation, post-implantation management difficulty, gas exchanger, metabolic support, left ventricular support, right ventricular support, biventricular support and circulatory support); and severity (haemolysis).