title: Is surgery the gold standard in the treatment of obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is a complex and relatively common genetic cardiac disease and has been the subject of intensive scrutiny and investigation for over 40 years. The aim of this non-randomized cohort study was to compare subjective and objective outcomes in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy patients undergoing drug therapy, surgical myotomy-myectomy, dual-chamber pacing and alcohol septal ablation.
  
  
  METHODS
  We examined 194 patients: 103 with non-obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and 91 with obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. All the patients with a non-obstructive form were on drug therapy. Ninety-one consecutive patients with drug-refractory obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy were treated invasively. Dual-chamber pacemaker implantation was performed for 49 patients with previous positive temporary pacing test (Group 1). In 28 patients with massive left ventricle hypertrophy and obliteration of its cavities, extensive myotomy-myectomy was performed (Group 2). In 14 patients with midventricular obstruction and appropriate coronary anatomy, alcohol septal ablation was performed (Group 3).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The peak left ventricle outflow tract gradient was 84.1 ± 15.2 mmHg in Group 1, 113.3 ± 14.9 mmHg in Group 2 and 97.5 ± 8.9 mmHg in Group 3. Dual-chamber pacing in Group 1 with optimal atrio-ventricular delay (85-180 ms for atrium pacing and 45-120 ms for atrial sensing) leads to dramatic decreases in left ventricle outflow tract gradient to 17.6 ± 11.8 mmHg and degree of mitral regurgitation. After extensive myectomy in Group 2, we observed a reduction of left ventricle outflow tract gradient to 17.3 ± 10.2 mmHg. Septal alcohol ablation in Group 3 leads to a left ventricle outflow tract gradient decrease from 97.5 ± 8.9 to 25.3 ± 5.8 mmHg.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Surgical myectomy, dual-chamber pacing and alcohol septal ablation are equally effective in reducing obstruction in case of correct indications. Dual-chamber pacing is indicated in functional reversible states characterized by excitation delay. Alcohol septal ablation is preferable in cases with midventricular obstruction and appropriate coronary anatomy. Surgical methods are indicated in anatomical irreversible changes and remain the gold standard for obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy treatment.
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Cardiovascular Surgery, Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine, Kiev,  Ukraine.
authors.forename: Gennady
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Knyshov
authors.forename: Vasyl
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Lazoryshynets
authors.forename: Kostyantyn
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Rudenko
authors.forename: Borys
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kravchuk
authors.forename: Vyacheslav
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Beshlyaga
authors.forename: Valery
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Zalevsky
authors.forename: Olga
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Rasputnyak
authors.forename: Bogdan
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Batsak
mesh_terms: D055011:Ablation Techniques / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000592:standards; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002304:Cardiac Pacing, Artificial / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000592:standards; D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000592:standards; D002312:Cardiomyopathy, Hypertrophic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D002317:Cardiovascular Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018450:Disease Progression; D000431:Ethanol / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018579:Patient Selection; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013318:Stroke Volume; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left; D017725:Ventricular Pressure; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D002317:Cardiovascular Agents; D000431:Ethanol