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Questions posted in the
Heart Forum have been answered by doctors from The Cleveland Clinic Foundation.
Question Title: alcohol ablation/HOCMForum: The Heart Forum
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My Mom is 63 years old & has severe HOCM (NYHA class >IV). She is 150 lbs overweight, asthmatic & severly depressed from her incapacity to perform simple, everday tasks. Mom had a successful myectomy performed at Mayo Clinic in 1993, however, her condition has greatly deteriorated in the past 5 years. Due to my Mom's current state of health, the staff at Mayo has suggested a procedure known as Alcohol Ablation. We are having much difficulty locating specific information about this procedure. Could you please provide us with some general facts about this procedure & the current success rate? Thanks in advance for your response! Dear Jim Alcohol ablation refers to an experimental procedure for HOCM. It is very similar to an angioplasty. It involves injecting alcohol down a small artery to kill the extra muscle that is causing the problem, a sort of non-surgical myectomy. It works most of the time. Sometimes a repeat procedure is needed in a few months. A not uncommon complication is the need for a pacemaker after the procedure. We have done several now and the procedure appears promising. I hope this has been useful. Feel free to write back with further questions. Good luck. Information provided here is of a general nature. Specific diagnoses and treatments can only be made by your doctor. If you would like to be seen at the Cleveland Clinic, please call 1-800-CCF-CARE for an appointment with a cardiologist at Desk F15.
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