How heart support machines affect how your body processes medications

Researchers are studying how temporary mechanical heart support devices—like ECMO or Impella pumps—affect the way your body processes medications. When your heart is in severe shock and needs machine support, the stress on your body might change how medications work. This study will use blood tests to measure these changes and understand whether patients on these devices need different medication doses or timing.

When patients are on temporary heart support devices, their body is under extreme stress and working differently than normal. This may change how medications are broken down and absorbed, which could affect how well treatments work. Understanding these changes will help doctors give safer, more effective medications to patients on these devices.