Risk stratification for sudden cardiac death after septal myectomy

Summary Background The importance of risk stratification for sudden cardiac death (SCD) after septal myectomy for hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM) has not been emphasized previously. Methods and results We report 2 patients with SCD or ventricular tachycardia (VT) after septal myectomy for HOCM in whom risk factors for SCD were identified following surgical myectomy. One received an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD), which subsequently provided appropriate discharges for VT. The other delayed ICD implantation and suffered SCD. Conclusion These cases emphasize the importance of risk stratification for SCD after septal myectomy for HOCM.