Tag: myectomy

Septal Reduction – Not a One Size Fits All

Published on by hcmbeatLeave a comment

A recent article published in the European Journal of Cardiology Heart Failure compares septal myectomy to septal alcohol ablation. The paper goes through specific factors which make one procedure or the other more appropriate: individual anatomy and age being two .of the most important.

The article emphasizes that proper patient selection for either procedure is key.  Further, it emphasizes the necessity of having both procedures done at at high volume center in order to increase the odds of a successful procedure.

Seniors Do Well After Myectomy

Published on by hcmbeat2 Comments

A recent study of Medicare patients conducted by doctors at the Cleveland Clinic found that senior citizens who underwent septal myectomy had better long term survival and did not need repeat procedures compared to those who underwent septal alcohol ablation.

And, despite the overwhelming evidence that septal reduction procedures performed at high volume centers have superior outcomes, 70% of septal reduction procedures are still being performed at low volume centers.

We need to spread the word that the success of septal reduction procedures is highly dependent on the experience and volume of the center!

Myectomy: Still the Gold Standard for HOCM

Published on by hcmbeatLeave a comment

An expert panel comprised of many of the world’s top HCM experts recently published a retrospective analysis in The American Journal of Cardiology which looked at septal myectomy over the last 60 years of practice.

 Beginning with the introduction of the procedure at the National Institute of Health in the early 1960s, this paper surveys the history of the procedure until the present day.  The conclusion of the paper is that myectomy remains the best treatment for patients with obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Continue reading “Myectomy: Still the Gold Standard for HOCM” →

Mavacamten vs. Septal Reduction – VALOR-HCM Trial Results Published

Published on by hcmbeat1 Comment

The VALOR-HCM trial results have just been published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. 

This study enrolled 112 obstructive HCM patients for a 16 week double blind trial of the drug mavacamten (brand name Camzyos). All patients in the trial had been referred for septal reduction therapy – either septal myectomy or septal alcohol ablation – to treat their highly symptomatic obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.   The researchers looked at whether the addition of mavacamten to their other drugs would improve their symptoms enough so that they no longer met the criteria for septal reduction therapy (SRT) under the 2011 ACC/AHA Guidelines.

You can read many more details about the VALOR-HCM study here in this recent blog post on HCMBeat.

Continue reading “Mavacamten vs. Septal Reduction – VALOR-HCM Trial Results Published” →

VALOR-HCM Trial – Mavacamten vs. Septal Reduction Therapy – RESULTS ARE IN!

Published on by hcmbeat5 Comments

The Phase 3 VALOR-HCM trial results were presented this morning at the American College of Cardiology annual meeting in Washington, DC by the principal investigator, Dr. Milind Desai of the Cleveland Clinic, and the results are good!

What was the VALOR-HCM study?

15 – 20  million people worldwide are estimated to have HCM, with 2/3 of this group having the obstructive form which can cause severe symptoms. Historically, these patients have been treated with medications approved for other conditions, and if those don’t relieve symptoms, they are referred on for septal reduction therapies (SRT) like alcohol septal ablation (a catheter based procedure) or septal myectomy (open heart surgery), which are invasive therapies requiring specialized care and which are not widely available.

The VALOR study was designed to compare mavacamten head to head with SRT to see if mavacamten could be a non-invasive treatment alternative for obstructive HCM.

Continue reading “VALOR-HCM Trial – Mavacamten vs. Septal Reduction Therapy – RESULTS ARE IN!” →

Fifteen Year Anniversary of Myectomy!

Published on by hcmbeat1 Comment

Today it has been 15 years since my septal myectomy at Mayo Clinic!  

 
It’s hard to believe, and lots has happened since my open heart surgery, but I wanted to post today to let everyone know that it was totally worth it. The best decision I ever made.  I have been working full time since the surgery, have been working on this blog and have a busy life as a wife, mother and daughter. 
 
 
Of course the COVID pandemic has been challenging for all of us, but I am grateful for the blessing of the great medical care that has allowed me to continue living my best possible life, even if it is currently limited by the circumstances.
 
If you are on the fence wondering if this surgery is worth it, I am here to tell you it absolutely was.  You can see a collection of resources I gathered about myectomy.  Also, if you are wondering what it is like to visit a place like Mayo Clinic, I wrote a travelogue here.
 
And here are some words from my Mayo Clinic cardiologist, Dr. Steve Ommen, about the role of a specialty center in HCM care. Or you can read a recent interview with Dr. Ommen on Medscape here.
 
Meanwhile, wishing you all good health!

Positive Myectomy Outcomes for Patients 65+

Published on by hcmbeat1 Comment

According to a recent retrospective study at Oregon Health & Sciences University, appropriately selected patients 65 or older who underwent septal myectomy for obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HOCM) have surgical outcomes similar to younger patients. Therefore, older age should NOT be an automatic disqualifier for myectomy. All potential treatments for outflow tract obstruction should be considered, with age being only one of many factors influencing the decision.  

Myectomy Sooner?

Published on by hcmbeat1 Comment

An article by doctors at the Cleveland Clinic recently published in the Journal of the American Heart Association advocates for earlier surgical intervention for patients with obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM).   

According to this article, obstructed HCM patients who undergo myectomy earlier have better long term survival. Therefore, these doctors take the position that patients should not wait until they become severely symptomatic and/or have run out of medical options to undergo myectomy surgery. 

Meanwhile, an accompanying editorial by Dr. Mark Sherrid of NYU Langone Health is to the contrary.  Dr. Sherrid argues that medications like disopyramide (Norpace) are effective in reducing symptoms and that the inherent risks from open heart surgery are not outweighed by a theoretical improvement in longevity.

Regardless of the timing of surgery, Dr. Sherrid points out that with multiple companies now developing novel treatments for HCM, visibility of the disease will increase which will ultimately result in better patient outcomes for all with HCM. 

 

 

 

HCM Treatment: The View from OHSU

Published on by hcmbeatLeave a comment

If you are looking for a good survey of current practices in the treatment of HCM, a recent article published in the journal Structural Heart by Dr. Ahmad Masri and the team at Oregon Health and Sciences University (OHSU) provides an informative overview of thirty controversies and considerations in the treatment of HCM. This article explains in some detail how the doctors at this HCM Center approach these situations. 

Continue reading “HCM Treatment: The View from OHSU” →

Visiting Mayo Clinic

Published on by hcmbeat5 Comments

I had open heart surgery (a septal myectomy) to treat my hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in 2006.  I went back to Mayo twice for the two years following the surgery, but after that I hadn’t felt the need to return since I was regularly following up with my local cardiologist.  In April of 2018, it had been almost ten years since I had been back to Rochester.  So, I decided it was time to take a trip and make sure that all was in order.

Continue reading “Visiting Mayo Clinic” →