The treatment of hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy by nonsurgical myocardial reduction

We describe a novel treatment for hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy, in which septal reduction is achieved via transluminal induction of focal septal infarction. The results of the first three patients treated in this fashion have been recently reported; in this preliminary series, intraventricular pressure gradients could be dramatically reduced by the creation of a localized infarction of the the ventricular septum. The procedure is well tolerated and effective in reducing the obstruction to left ventricular outflow. Further studies are underway to fully evaluate the usefulness of the technique.