Percutaneous transluminal septal alcoholization for the treatment of refractory hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy: initial experience in the Federal District

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the efficacy of percutaneous transluminal septal alcoholization in the treatment of refractory obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HOC). METHODS: The patients were referred for alcoholization after Doppler echocardiography. Before and after alcoholization, the intraventricular pressure gradient was recorded. Alcoholization was performed with a 3mL injection of absolute alcohol through a coronary angioplasty balloon catheter. The procedure was concluded after a significant reduction or abolition of the pressure gradient. RESULTS: Of 22 patients, 18 (81.8%) successfully concluded the procedure with a reduction in intraventricular pressure gradient at baseline (from 67.6&plusmn;24.2 mmHg to 3.8&plusmn; 1.9 mmHg, p<0.005) and after extrasystole (from 110.4&plusmn; 24.2 mmHg to 9.6&plusmn;2.6 mm Hg, p<0.005). A significant reduction in mean interventricular septal thickness (from 2&plusmn; 0.3 mm to 1.7&plusmn;0.2 mm, p<0.005) and in peak pressure gradient (from 90.7&plusmn;23.5 mmHg to 6.1&plusmn;1.4 mmHg, p