Septal Myectomy for Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM)

Improve Your Quality of Life and Potentially Reverse HCM-Related Heart Failure

When you’re living with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), you can have a variety of troublesome symptoms. For some people, septal myectomy surgery may be the best way to address them.

At Lahey Clinic, expert cardiac surgeons offer an open-heart surgery that can significantly improve your well-being and help you have a better quality of life.

What is Septal Myectomy?

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy causes muscle between your heart’s lower chambers, or ventricles, to thicken. This muscle tissue, known as the septum, can hinder blood being pumped out of your heart through your left ventricle to the rest of your body. As a result, your heart must work harder, and you may develop heart failure.

Septal myectomy removes part of your thickened septum. This makes it easier for blood to flow. It can return the pressure within your heart to normal levels. It may also reverse heart failure associated with HCM.

Am I a Candidate for HCM Surgery?

You may be a candidate for surgical myectomy if you have HCM and medication doesn’t control your symptoms. Our HCM specialists will meet with you and do a thorough heart evaluation to determine if you qualify.

How Do I Prepare for Septal Myectomy?

If you decide to have surgery, we will schedule a pre-operative visit. During this visit, we will give you any needed instructions. We schedule your surgery after you speak with our surgical team.

What Happens During Septal Myectomy?

During your procedure, your surgeon makes an incision to open your chest and reach your heart. You receive anesthesia so you don’t experience pain. The surgeon connects you to a heart-lung machine that will do the work of your heart and lungs during your procedure.

Next, the surgeon makes a small incision in your lower aorta. This makes it possible to see the ventricular septum through your aortic valve. The surgeon then removes a small portion of your ventricular septum muscle. It won’t grow back. In some cases, the surgeon must also repair the valve between the heart’s upper left chamber and the left ventricle.

When your surgery is complete, the surgeon will remove the heart-lung machine and close up your chest. This surgery is generally considered low risk. It usually takes about three to five hours to complete.

Life After Septal Myectomy

Blood flows more freely as soon as we remove your obstruction. However, it can take several weeks to months to recover and feel the full benefits of surgery. More than 9 in 10 people who have surgery report 90% to 100% improvement in their symptoms. Exercise becomes much easier and heart failure symptoms resolve. You can enjoy many physical activities without experiencing shortness of breath, chest pressure, chest pounding, lightheadedness or fatigue.