Awake Axillary Impella 5.5 Placement - A Feasibility Trial

General anesthesia places patients who are in cardiogenic shock at risk for life threatening hemodynamic compromise due to the anesthetic and positive pressure ventilation, and confers the need for mechanical ventilation and sedation post operatively. Our hypothesis is that by utilizing regional anesthesia, anesthesiologists can facilitate surgical Impella placement with less risk of cardiovascular collapse with a faster road to recovery. By avoiding endotracheal intubation and concomitant heavy sedation both in the operating room and ICU, these patients will avoid worsening deconditioning and ICU delirium, with less days to physical therapy, ambulation, and recovery as compared to patients who undergo general anesthesia and remain ventilated in the ICU after their Impella placement. Patients scheduled for Impella 5.5 placement will be screened by a specific set of inclusion/exclusion criteria for potential participation in the study. If they consent, they will receive three commonly used upper extremity nerve blocks (Interscalene, PECS II, and superficial cervical plexus nerve blocks) and receive only intravenous sedation during the procedure.