Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) forces the heart to work harder to pump blood than it should. At Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health, you receive high-quality care from an academic medical center, close to home.
What Is Septal Myectomy?
The septum is a muscular wall that separates the left and right chambers (ventricles) of the heart. In hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), the septum thickens abnormally.
The enlarged septum reduces or blocks blood flow. Many patients with HCM also experience mitral valve regurgitation. This means blood flows in the opposite direction than it should though the heart. Left untreated, HCM may also cause heart rhythm problems (arrhythmias) and contribute to heart failure.
Septal myectomy is open-heart surgery to remove part of the enlarged septum. The opening of the chambers is widened to increase blood flow, easing your symptoms.
Why You Might Need Septal Myectomy
You might need septal myectomy surgery if medications don't relieve hypertrophic cardiomyopathy symptoms. Your doctor may also recommend septal myectomy if you:
- Have HCM and want to become pregnant, even if you do not have symptoms or have mild symptoms
- Have severe hypertrophy that affects your left ventricle
If you're not able to have septal myectomy, your surgeon may recommend a minimally invasive treatment called alcohol septal ablation.
Septal Myectomy: The Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health Advantage
Board-certified cardiothoracic surgeons from Lancaster General Health Physicians Cardiothoracic Surgery perform our myectomy procedures. As one of the nation's premier cardiovascular groups, we offer people in Central Pennsylvania access to complex heart procedures like septal myectomy without having to go far from home.
The entire team at our Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Treatment Clinic provides specialized care before and after septal myectomy for HCM. We use the latest generation of imaging technology, including 3D echocardiograms and cardiac CT, to ensure accurate diagnosis and treatment. And Lancaster General Hospital is home to one of the only hybrid operating rooms (OR) in Lancaster County. This state-of-the-art facility allows heart and vascular surgeons and interventional cardiologists to work side by side for patients who require multiple procedures.
Benefits of Septal Myectomy
- Septal myectomy can immediately relieve HCM symptoms such as:
- Chest pain (angina)
- Dizziness
- Fainting (syncope)
- Palpitations
- Shortness of breath (dyspnea)
What to Expect During Septal Myectomy
Septal myectomy takes place while you’re under general anesthesia. The procedure usually takes between three and four hours.
During a septal myectomy, your surgeon:
- Makes a 6- to 8-inch incision through your breastbone (sternotomy) to access your heart
- Connects you to a heart-lung machine (cardiopulmonary bypass), which takes over from your heart and lungs during the procedure
- Removes thickened heart muscle
- Completes any other procedures, such as mitral valve repair surgery, if needed
- Disconnects you from the heart-lung machine
- Closes the incision
Recovery After Septal Myectomy
After septal myectomy, you’ll stay in the intensive care unit (ICU) until you recover enough to move to a regular room. You will spend up to a week in the hospital.
Most people experience immediate relief of HCM symptoms, but it may take several weeks for you to return to your normal activities. Your surgeon may also recommend cardiac rehab to help you build strength and heal more quickly.
Contact Us
To learn more about our heart and vascular care, call 717-544-8300.