Survival Following Alcohol Septal Ablation or Septal Myectomy for Patients With Obstructive Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy

J Am Coll Cardiol. 2022 May 3;79(17):1647-1655. doi: 10.1016/j.jacc.2022.02.032.

Abstract

Background: There is little information regarding long-term mortality comparing the 2 most common procedures for septal reduction for obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), alcohol septal ablation (ASA), and septal myectomy.

Objectives: This study sought to compare the long-term mortality of patients with obstructive HCM following septal myectomy or ASA.

Methods: We evaluated outcomes of 3,859 patients who underwent ASA or septal myectomy in 3 specialized HCM centers. All-cause mortality was the primary endpoint of the study.

Results: In the study cohort, 585 (15.2%) patients underwent ASA, and 3,274 (84.8%) underwent septal myectomy. Patients undergoing ASA were significantly older (median age: 63.0 years [IQR: 52.7-72.8 years] vs 53.7 years [IQR: 44.9-62.8 years]; P < 0.001) and had smaller septal thickness (19.0 mm [IQR: 17.0-22.0 mm] vs 20.0 mm [IQR: 17.0-23.0 mm]; P = 0.007). Patients undergoing ASA also had more comorbidities, including renal failure, diabetes, hypertension, and coronary artery disease. There were 4 (0.7%) early deaths in the ASA group and 9 (0.3%) in the myectomy group. Over a median follow-up of 6.4 years (IQR: 3.6-10.2 years), the 10-year all-cause mortality rate was 26.1% in the ASA group and 8.2% in the myectomy group. After adjustment for age, sex, and comorbidities, the mortality remained greater in patients having septal reduction by ASA (HR: 1.68; 95% CI: 1.29-2.19; P < 0.001).

Conclusions: In patients with obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, ASA is associated with increased long-term all-cause mortality compared with septal myectomy. This impact on survival is independent of other known factors but may be influenced by unmeasured confounding patient characteristics.

Keywords: alcohol septal ablation; hypertrophic cardiomyopathy; left ventricular outflow tract obstruction; septal myectomy; septal reduction therapy.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cardiac Surgical Procedures* / methods
  • Cardiomyopathy, Hypertrophic*
  • Coronary Artery Bypass
  • Heart Septum / surgery
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Treatment Outcome