Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy- The Case for Alcohol Ablation Therapy

Non-surgical reduction of septal hypertrophy by means of transcoronary alcohol septal ablation has recently emerged as an alternative to surgical myectomy treatment modality in patients with obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) refractory to medical therapy. Advantages of the percutaneous ablation technique include the avoidance of a major surgical procedure, the lack of post-operative pain and need for transfusion, the shorter hospital stay and the low incidence of atrial fibrillation. However, until more comparative data between these two techniques become available, surgical myectomy remains the standard approach as the most effective and long-lasting treatment for alleviating symptoms of obstructive HCM