Technique
Alcohol septal ablation is performed in the cardiac catheterization laboratory, and should only be performed by interventional cardiologists with specific training in the procedure (current guidelines suggest > 20 successful procedures to demonstrate competence). As such, it is only available in a few institutions. The technique is similar to coronary angioplasty, and utilizes similar equipment. Using wires and balloons to localize the septal artery feeding the diseased muscle under both fluoroscopic (x-ray) and echocardiographic (ultrasound) guidance, a small amount of absolute alcohol is infused into the artery to produce a small heart attack. Patients typically experience mild chest discomfort during the procedure, which takes approximately 60–90 minutes to complete. Analgesics and mild sedatives are administered as needed. Patients typically are maintained in the hospital for three to four days to monitor for any complications, including need for permanent pacemaker in 5-10%.
Read more about this topic: Alcohol Septal Ablation
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