Questions posted in the Heart Forum have been answered by doctors from The Cleveland Clinic Foundation.

Subject: Re: Septal Ablation
Forum: The Heart Forum

Topic Area: Cardiomyopathy

Posted by Mike on May 09, 1999 at 19:39:48

Hi, I am 46 years old and have Hypertrophic Obstructive Cardiomyopathy for 16 years and have recently become symptomatic. I am on 440 MG of Verapamil. I was wondering what the Cleveland Clinic's position is on Septal Ablation on a relatively young man. Is it being used primary in an older population who would be poor surgical risks? I had seen Dr Lever and that was his position when I saw him. Thank you

Posted by CCF CARDIO MD-APS on May 12, 1999 at 10:47:58

Dear Mike,
Dr.Lever is the "guru" of septal ablation here at the Cleveland Clinic and thus no opinion ranks higher, so it is unlikely you will find here an opinion any different from his. The risks of septal ablation are worse than that of the surgical repair (called myomectomy) and the benefits of the surgery are better and currently, longer lasting. So why you are interested in the ablation technique over the surgery is unclear to me.

I hope you find this information useful. Information provided in the heart forum is for general
purposes only. Only your physician can provide specific diagnoses and therapies. Please feel free to
write back with additional questions. Good luck.



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