Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is a primary, non-inflammatory disorder of the myocardium. It is characterized by an increase in the size of the heart muscle due to diffuse growth of the muscle tissue of the left ventricle walls, less commonly involving only the apex of the heart.
Causes of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
The etiology of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is unclear. The distinction from other cardiovascular diseases is that this condition is not related to:
- Valvular defects, both congenital and acquired
- Intracardiac shunts
- Pulmonary or arterial hypertension
- Ischemic heart disease
- Systemic diseases.
Diagnosis of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in Israel
Sometimes the disease manifests with symptoms:
- Chest pain
- Dizziness attacks, which can lead to fainting
- Paroxysmal shortness of breath, which often manifests at night
- Acrocyanosis – bluish discoloration of the extremities
- Syncope – a gray veil before the eyes
- The patient experiences palpitations and irregular heartbeats.
In addition to taking the medical history of the patient suffering from hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a series of progressive diagnostic procedures are conducted at Ichilov:
- Echo-cardiography (including exercise testing)
- Electrocardiography (including a 24-hour Holter monitoring)
- Coronary angiography
- CT of the heart with coronary artery capture
- MRI
- Radiological diagnosis of the thoracic organs
- Laboratory diagnostics and genetic analysis
- Cardiac chamber catheterization
- Radionuclide ventriculography.
Treatment of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in Israel
Fortunately, this disease can be treated in two ways: conservatively and surgically. The conservative method involves medication treatment. First and foremost, it is symptomatic therapy to alleviate the most prominent and troubling symptoms for the patient.
Such medications include:
- Antihypertensive medications
- Diuretics
- Cardiac glycosides
- Calcium agonists
- Antiarrhythmic agents.
If the medication therapy is ineffective, there are indications for surgical intervention. Treatment of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in Israel is conducted after a detailed consultation with leading specialists in cardiac surgery and anesthesiology at Ichilov.
Options for surgical procedures:
- Transaortic septal myectomy. The goal of the surgery is to excise excess muscle tissue and restore the deformed part of the heart – the left ventricle. Thus, part of the interventricular septum is removed, making it easier for blood to flow to the left ventricle, thereby reducing heart failure.
- Transcatheter septal ablation. The essence of the surgical intervention is to sclerose the interventricular septum, significantly reducing its thickness.
- Annuloplasty. This option involves suturing the valve ring or even its transplantation.
- Biventricular permanent pacing. A pacemaker is implanted.
- Transplantation of an artificial ventricle. Implantation of a specially designed device for the treatment of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in Israel. Its operation is based on a pumping principle. Thus, blood is pumped from the atrium to the ventricle. This surgery is indicated in cases of severe heart failure. Typically, such patients require a donor organ.
- Heart transplantation.