Complications of percutaneous transluminal septal myocardial ablation in hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy.

Objective To assess the complications of percutaneous tansluminal septal myocardial ablation (PTSMA) for the treatment of hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM). Methods Seventy-two patients with symptomatic left ventricular outflow tract obstruction were diagnosed by echocardiography or catheterization procedures. Absolute ethanol was injected into the target coronary artery branch (branches) for septal myocardial ablation. Documented complications were recorded. Results Sixty-nine patients had severe chest pain, 19 developed different degrees of heart block during the periprocedural period, but only one developed a complete AV block, requiring permanent pace-maker implantation. Temporary right bundle branch block occurred in 50% of patients and permanent block occurred in 38.9% of patients. Acute inferior myocardial infarction occurred in six patients (8.3%) and acute anterior myocardial infarction occurred in one patient. During two-year follow-up of 24 cases, there were no deaths. All patients had improvement in heart function and none experienced heart failure. Conclusion The most common complication of PTSMA is right bundle branch block. The most significant complication of the procedure is heart block. PTSMA is a good technical, non-surgical treatment for HOCM.