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When someone hears the words “artificial heart” , it can sound frightening. You may immediately imagine a machine completely replacing the heart and wonder what happens to the person during the treatment. Impella is different. An Impella device is a small temporary heart pump used in certain serious heart conditions and during selected high-risk heart procedures. It is designed to support the heart's pumping function for a limited period rather than permanently replace the heart. But when would someone actually need this kind of support? Is it used only when the heart is failing? Can it be used during angioplasty? And what happens after the pump is removed? Let's break it down in simple terms. 1. What Is an Impella Heart Pump? The heart's main job is to pump blood throughout the body. The left ventricle, one of the heart's main pumping chambers, pushes oxygen-rich blood into the body's circulation. When the heart becomes severely weakened, it may not be able to pu...