Published on November 11, 2026 1:37 pm
Last Updated on November 11, 2026 1:38 pm
Interventional Cardiologist Adham Karim, MD, recently performed the first Impella cases at SBL, expanding SBL’s advanced heart care capabilities.
The Impella heart pump is a device that helps support the heart during complex procedures to restore blood flow.
Dr. Karim used the technology during high-risk percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI), in which stents are placed in blocked arteries to improve blood flow. These procedures can be especially challenging for patients with severe heart disease, multiple blockages or other health conditions that make traditional treatment options too risky.
The Impella device is a small, temporary heart pump inserted through an artery in the groin and guided into the heart. Once placed, it helps move blood through the body, temporarily taking over some of the heart’s pumping work.
“Essentially, it’s a miniature version of bypass,” Dr. Karim said. “It allows us to do the work of the heart, in turn allowing me to work on blocked arteries while providing additional circulatory support to patients whose hearts may not tolerate the procedure on their own.”
The technology can make treatment possible for patients who otherwise may have been considered too high-risk for conventional procedures.
“A lot of doctors would tell these high-risk patients that there is not really anything they can do and that they should get their affairs in order,” Dr. Karim said. “With this device, we are able to do these procedures and improve people’s quality of life.”
He continued: “This hits home for me because my grandfather was in a similar position years ago. We were able to find someone who could perform the procedure, and his quality of life was dramatically better afterward.”
For SBL, offering this care represents an important step in expanding access to specialized cardiovascular care in a rural community.
“Even at the national level, there’s not a lot of places that do this sort of thing,” Dr. Karim added. “Being able to help people suffering from heart disease and help them feel better is incredibly rewarding.”
For more information, call the Heart Center at SBL at 217-238-4960.
