Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy

Septal Ablation for Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy

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Septal ablation is performed during cardiac catheterization. It can relieve the obstruction and improve symptoms if properly performed, but the long-term outcome of this new procedure is still unknown. Potential complications may include heart block, which would require a pacemaker.

This illustration shows a nonsurgical septal ablation procedure. Using small tubes (catheters) placed into the bloodstream, the artery supplying blood to the thickest part of the septal muscle (that part responsible for causing the obstruction) is identified. A very small amount of alcohol, which is toxic to the cells it reaches, is injected into this area to cause a small, strategically located heart attack.