A surgeon thins the thickened septum by removing extra muscle during a septal myectomy. This facilitates easier ventricular emptying of the blood.
Another approach for the treatment of cardiomyopathy is alcohol septal ablation. A blood artery in the ventricular septum is injected with alcohol during an alcohol septal ablation. This thins the septum by causing certain cardiac muscle cells to die. Alcohol septal ablation does not need open heart surgery, making recuperation considerably simpler. The chance of some consequences, such as issues with heart rhythm, may be somewhat elevated.
Why is myectomy needed?
In many cases, medicines are enough to relieve symptoms of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. If symptoms are not relieved with medicines, a procedure such as septal myectomy is often effective.
Septal myectomy is a relatively safe surgical procedure that surgeons have done for many years. Some women with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy also might need a septal myectomy before becoming pregnant, even if their symptoms aren’t severe.
Many times, taking medication is sufficient to reduce hypertrophic cardiomyopathy symptoms. If medication does not improve symptoms, a treatment such as septal myectomy is frequently successful.
Surgeons have been doing septal myectomy, a generally safe surgical operation, for many years. Even if their symptoms are mild, some women with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy may require a septal myectomy prior to becoming pregnant.
Ask your doctor whether you are a suitable candidate for either an alcohol septal ablation or septal myectomy. Talk to your doctor about the advantages and disadvantages of every surgery. In younger people and those with more significant thicknesses, surgery is frequently preferred. Your septal anatomy may make surgery more appropriate. You could require more heart surgery, such as mitral valve repair. Septal myectomy is advised in these conditions.
What is the procedure of septal myectomy?
The specifics of your operation should be discussed with your doctor. Before beginning your septal myectomy, a doctor will offer you anesthesia. You will experience deep, painless sleep as a result throughout the procedure. You can't remember it later on.
The procedure will last for many hours. The surgeon will update your loved ones, so they should wait for them in the waiting area.
Your surgeon will detach a portion of your breastbone through an incision in the center of your chest.
You'll be connected to a heart-lung machine by the surgical team. During your procedure, this machine will pump blood into your body and give your blood oxygen.
Your thicker septum will be partially removed by your surgeon.
The heart-lung machine will be taken out by the surgical team.
Your breastbone will be wired back together by the team.
The team will next close the skin incision with stitches or staples.